Former WWE & AEW Star Announces In-Ring Retirement Following Torn ACL During ‘Last Run Tour’

WWE/AEW

A former WWE & AEW star has announced the end of their in-ring career after suffering a torn ACL during their last run tour.

At the beginning of 2026, former WWE and AEW star Mercedes Martinez announced that she would be retiring as a full-time wrestler in 2026 following her departure from AEW.

Martinez has been a veteran of women’s wrestling for over 25 years, and she has now sadly announced that her career has come to an end earlier than expected after suffering a torn ACL.

Mercedes Martinez Announces Retirement

Taking to social media, Mercedes announced that she suffered a knee injury during her match with Allie Katch for 2CW on August 15, and that it was revealed that her injury was a torn ACL.

Mercedes noted that this injury brings to an end her wrestling career, saying:

“Hey everyone, OG badass here, Mercedes. I wanted to make this video because I didn’t want to write something. It was hard to put it into words, so I think it’s just easier if it can come from the heart.

“We are just about three quarters of the way into this last run tour, and two weeks ago I injured my knee in a match against Allie Katch for 2CW, August 15.

“Two doctors later, an MRI later, the prognosis is torn ACL. For most, it’s probably not a career ending injury, but for me it is. So I am heartbroken to even say this, but that’s the end of my wrestling career.

“This is the year as everyone knows it was going to be my last year full time, meaning I wasn’t going to wrestle every weekend, not even once a month, maybe special occasions after this year.

“I wanted to give back to women’s wrestling, I want to do this my way and give 110% and give my body to wrestling, and I did just that.”

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Mercedes Martinez signed with WWE back in 2020, with her appearing on the NXT brand before being called up as ‘Retaliation’ in the Retribution faction, though she was quickly removed from the group shortly after and returned to NXT until her release in 2021.

Martinez would then go on to sign with AEW/ROH in 2021, where she remained under contract until the beginning of 2026.

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• AEW
• wwe
• retirement
• Mercedes Martinez

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