Mercedes Martinez has arrived in AEW in shocking style!
With Jade Cargill and Thunder Rosa going to war in the semi-finals of the TBS Championship Tournament the match hung on a knife edge. Cargill had used her power early on to take control but Rosa’s never-say-die attitude kept her in contention, and left her within arms length of victory.
However, no one inside Daily’s Place could have seen what would happen next. With Mark Sterling distracting the referee and Cargill gathering herself in the ring, a hooded figure rushed to ringside attacking Thunder Rosa. The shock assault meant that Cargill was able to grab the win.
Naturally this didn’t sit well with Thunder Rosa who attempted to gain some retribution after the bell. Despite doing her best to brawl with the winner, the hooded figure arrived back in the ring to lay out Rosa. The mystery assailant then revealed herself to be former NXT Superstar Mercedes Martinez.
With a two-on-one beatdown in full flow, Ruby Soho ran to the ring to even the score, sending Cargill and Martinez running to the outside.
😱It's the legendary @RealMMartinez under that mask!!!
Do not miss a minute of the action tonight here on #AEWDynamite: #NewYearsSmash LIVE on @tntdrama!
Reminder: #AEWDynamite moves to @tbsnetwork next Wed. Jan 5th 2022 🎉 pic.twitter.com/wUn6AP70nf— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 30, 2021
Mercedes Martinez enjoyed a brief dalliance with AEW in 2019 appearing in the Casino Battle Royale at All Out.
Martinez was released by WWE on August 6th alongside a number of NXT Superstars as part of the brands overhaul which eventually led to the creation of NXT 2.0. Since leaving WWE, Martinez has headed back out onto the independent circuit, also appearing in IMPACT Wrestling. At Turning Point in November, Martinez challenged Mickie James for the Knockouts Title but was ultimately unsuccessful.