All Elite Wrestling’s inaugural TBS Championship tournament for its women’s division is winding down, and on December 29’s episode of AEW: Dynamite Thunder Rosa faced off against Jade Cargill. Both competitors spared little of their arsenal on each other. Although Cargill has prodigious strength on her side, Rosa considerably weakened Cargill by targeting her knees. The strain was visible, but Cargill had help on her side. A mysterious assailant dressed in AEW camera crew gear appeared not once but twice during the bout, interfering on Cargill’s behalf. It was revealed to be Mercedes Martinez.
😱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
As the match wound down to its last minutes, thanks to the mysterious assailant Cargill was able to entrap Thunder Rosa in her powerful grasp and land a powerbomb finisher to secure the win, advancing to face Ruby Soho in the TBS tournament finals. In the ensuing fray, in which Soho also joined in, Martinez revealed herself, making her Dynamite debut and aligning with Cargill. Tony Khan revealed that Martinez is officially #AllElite, signing with the promotion.
This is not, however, Martinez’s first appearance for AEW, as she participated in the Casino Battle Royal at the first All Out PPV.
Martinez has a lengthy career in pro wrestling to her name, having spent time in promotions such as Shimmer and Ring of Honor. Her history as a gritty veteran of the independent wrestling scene was traded highly upon during her time as part of the NXT roster. In addition to being active on NXT, during her time at WWE Martinez was also briefly a member of the failed RETRIBUTION stable. She was released from WWE on Aug. 6, 2021.
Shortly after her release from WWE, Martinez soon resurfaced at IMPACT. She was the winner of the promotion’s Knockouts Knockdown tournament.
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