Mercedes Martinez, known for her significant presence on AEW and ROH television during 2022 and 2023, recently disclosed the reasons behind her AEW departure. After holding the ROH Women’s Championship for much of 2022, Martinez’s appearances on ROH TV ceased by April 2024, with her official exit from the company confirmed at the start of 2026. Her explanation sheds light on the challenges female wrestlers face within AEW’s large roster and limited creative opportunities.
Challenges with AEW’s Female Roster and Creative Direction
Speaking during an interview on the podcast “In The Weeds” with Jeremy Lambert and Joel Pearl, Martinez described her AEW run as one that began with promise but gradually diminished. She credited AEW President Tony Khan for initially providing her with a platform but noted how the depth of the female roster made it difficult to maintain a consistent role. Martinez said she regularly proposed ideas to enhance her career but
“creative didn’t take to it for whatever reason.”
Despite her frustration, she maintained a professional tone regarding the company and her experience.
She reflected on her attempt to team with Diamante, a partnership that lasted approximately six months before “it kind of fizzled out.” Martinez suggested that limited television time for women in AEW was a major obstacle. She explained:
“The time stuff for female wrestlers in any promotion tends to be small, and I think that was the problem. They had this phenomenal roster of talented female wrestlers and they didn’t know where everybody was going to fit.”
Martinez’s Role and Focus on Developing Emerging Talent
While she recognized the prestige of appearing on AEW’s flagship shows Dynamite and Collision, Martinez emphasized her preference for Ring of Honor, where young wrestlers emerge. She expressed a desire to help elevate new talent, stating,
“(I want to help) level up their game and teach them,”
but found the opportunities for her to do so were scarce. For two years, she remained off television, focusing on independent wrestling to maintain her skills, readying herself for when AEW might offer a role again.
She shared her decision to signal that 2026 would be her final full-time year, offering the promotion “a way out” before her contract expired. Martinez explained her choice to return to the independent circuit where she could wrestle in her own style with greater creative freedom, free from restrictions. She expressed gratitude for the chance AEW offered her but hinted that her rugged in-ring style may not have aligned with the company’s direction, saying,
“Maybe my style was too rough. Rugged and thugged [laughs].”
Recent Honors and Future Plans
Mercedes Martinez’s long career was recently honored with her induction into the Women’s Wrestling Hall of Fame in January 2026, cementing her status as a respected veteran within professional wrestling. Though stepping away from AEW and full-time wrestling, fans can expect her continued presence on the independent scene, where she values control over her style and creative input.
Her departure highlights ongoing challenges within major promotions regarding female talent utilization and creative storytelling. Martinez’s candid account shines a light on how roster size and limited booking opportunities can impact wrestlers’ careers, particularly experienced performers seeking meaningful on-screen roles.
For those interested in hearing Mercedes Martinez’s full perspective on her AEW departure, her interview with Jeremy Lambert and Joel Pearl remains available for viewing.
“I don’t want to talk bad about a company at all. Tony (Khan) gave me an opportunity when I first got there and ran with the popularity, and it just fizzled out a little bit. Sometimes, when you have a bloated roster, so many talented female wrestlers just go down the totem pole. That’s what I felt. I pitched idea after idea and creative didn’t take to it for whatever reason. Was I frustrated with them? Not really. My thing was, if you don’t have anything for me that is going to elevate my career, that’s cool. I’m still going to pitch the ideas and do what I can. The last two years were a little bit homebound. I pitched the idea for me and Diamante to team. That went well for about six months and then it kind of fizzled out for whatever reason. The time stuff for female wrestlers in any promotion tends to be small, and I think that was the problem. They had this phenomenal roster of talented female wrestlers and they didn’t know where everybody was going to fit. I didn’t have to be on TV. I didn’t want to be on Dynamite or Collision. I was happy with Ring of Honor because that’s where you’re seeing a lot of up and coming wrestlers, which is what I wanted to do. (I want to help) level up their game and teach them, but the cards weren’t there for me. I just stayed home. When they were ready to have me, I was ready to go. I made sure I got my reps on the indies so the rust wasn’t there. It’s one of those things where you can’t figure out because I have no idea why I wasn’t on TV or Ring of Honor for two years. I made a decision before my contract expired to kind of give them a way out. I said, ‘This is going to be my last year, and personally, I would rather do it on the indies and do it my way with my style of wrestling with no chains and the creative freedom on my own.’ I give all the props to Tony and thank him for the opportunity. I’m blessed for the opportunity he gave me. Maybe my style was too rough. Rugged and thugged [laughs].”
?Mercedes Martinez, Professional Wrestler
