Mercedes Martinez has opened up about her rationale behind signing for WWE after appearing in the company’s Mae Young Classic and spending time in AEW.
Speaking to Solo Wrestling ahead of NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day, the star disclosed that it was always her ‘ultimate goal’ to land on the Stamford company’s doorstep:
“I think WWE is everyone’s ultimate goal. It was always my ultimate goal to come to WWE, and I didn’t know in reality if I was actually ever going to make it here. After 20 years in the business, it’s one of those things that you kind of leave behind in the back of your head. Like, ‘Yeah, I’ll get there when I get there, [but] it may not be a thing’.”
The two-time SHIMMER Champion has wrestled across the globe, including for AEW in the Casino Battle Royale and on AEW Dark. Addressing her appearances for other companies, the ‘Latina Sensation’ said:
So you want to look at other outlets, whether it’s wrestling overseas or the other companies, but once the WWE contacted me I had no issues whatsoever signing that contract. [WWE was] definitely always the go. Even if I didn’t get to be part of WWE, I knew that I would still be wrestling for a couple more years. My career was winding down and this was just an opportunity that I had to get, and an opportunity that I really needed. It’s just the combination of all the hard work that I have done, and it just so happens that it came almost at my 20th year [in my] career.”
Mercedes’s current stint with WWE isn’t the first time she has appeared on their programming. Back in 2006, she was defeated by Victoria on an episode of WWE Heat and more recently she took part in both editions of the Mae Young Classic. The first year she lost in the semi-final to eventual winner Shayna Baszler and in 2018, she made it to the second round before losing to new NXT UK recruit Meiko Satomura.
Mercedes Martinez will be part of NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day as she competes for the NXT Women’s Championship against Io Shirai and Toni Storm.
Inside The Ropes will have live coverage of NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day.
Credit for the interview: Solo Wrestling
h/t for the transcription: Wrestling Inc.