Mercedes Martinez was among the names released by WWE last Friday due to budget cuts.
Martinez had a mini-run in WWE back in 2017 when she worked the Mae Young Classic tournament, but was eliminated in the semifinals. She was brought back in 2018 for the tournament but also was eliminated in the second round.
Martinez signed in 2020 where she would have feud with various NXT stars such as Rhea Ripley and more. She was called up to the main roster as a member of Retribution under the ring name of Retaliation, but asked to be removed from the group months later and sent back to NXT.
Martinez issued a statement on her Twitter account, which you can read below:
”My life..I never thought I would ever make it to the WWE. I stayed dedicated, hustled, grinded, and sacrificed more than I could ever imagined to reach that goal. It took 20yrs…..but I wouldn’t change anything bc the universe has a way of making things work out. I never fit the mold ANYWHERE but I stayed TRUE to myself, ALWAYS. The diamond in the rough” so to say….
I truly want to thank @tripleh @wwe and @WWENXT for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. I understand this business is never a guarantee for anything, and that sometimes the risk is higher than the reward. I’m grateful, blessed and humbled. Thank you to all that have text, messaged, emailed, called, and to those that put me on blast on social media..lol.
The overwhelming love does not go unnoticed. But…….DONT COUNT ME OUT! The BEST of me is still yet to be unseen. I’m rebuilding myself and I know my worth, always have. My drive, dedication, perseverance and my hard knocks stubbornness says I have more to prove. I’m looking forward to THE NEXT CHAPTER!……”
My life..I never thought I would ever make it to the WWE. I stayed dedicated, hustled, grinded, and sacrificed more than I could ever imagined to reach that goal. It took 20yrs…..but I wouldn't change anything bc the universe has a way of making things work out. pic.twitter.com/Jsir9DY2zo
— Mercedes Martinez 🏳️🌈🇵🇷 (@RealMMartinez) August 10, 2021
I never fit the mold ANYWHERE but I stayed TRUE to myself, ALWAYS.
"The diamond in the rough" so to say….
I truly want to thank @tripleh @wwe and @WWENXT for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. I understand this business is never a guarantee for anything,— Mercedes Martinez 🏳️🌈🇵🇷 (@RealMMartinez) August 10, 2021
and that sometimes the risk is higher than the reward. I'm grateful, blessed and humbled.
Thank you to all that have text, messaged, emailed, called, and to those that put me on blast on social media..lol.
— Mercedes Martinez 🏳️🌈🇵🇷 (@RealMMartinez) August 10, 2021
The overwhelming love does not go unnoticed.
But…….DONT COUNT ME OUT! The BEST of me is still yet to be unseen. I'm rebuilding myself and I know my worth, always have. My drive, dedication, perseverance and my hard knocks stubbornness says I have more to prove.
— Mercedes Martinez 🏳️🌈🇵🇷 (@RealMMartinez) August 10, 2021
I'm looking forward to THE NEXT CHAPTER!……#RUGGEDandTHUGGED #BRASSCITYOG #TheRealDeal
— Mercedes Martinez 🏳️🌈🇵🇷 (@RealMMartinez) August 10, 2021
