Various: Mercedes Martinez Announces 2026 Will Be Her Last Year As A Full-Time Active Wrestler, EC3 and Colby Corino Departs from NWA, Indies/Misc.

Jan 2, 2026

Mercedes Martinez Announces 2026 Will Be Her Last Year As A Full-Time Active Wrestler

ROH, AEW, and indies wrestler Mercedes Martinez announced on Thursday on Twitter that 2026 will be her final year as a full-time active wrestler for her wrestling career.

“2026. Different mindset. Different fire. This is my last year as a full-time ACTIVE professional wrestler. No contracts. No agents. No creative. Just me – and everything I’ve earned over 25 damn years in this business. Wrestling gave me everything. It broke me. Built me. Tested me. Somehow still made me fall in love with it again. 2025 wasn’t about being showcased. It was about going back to the indies, back to the grind, back to the reason I started -and remembering exactly who the hell I am.
Giving back. Teaching. Helping the next generation. Passing on what was given to me the hard way. That part means everything. So 2006 gets one more year of my body, my heart, and my fight. One more year of scars, sweat, pain, and pride. One more year of showing up and giving everything I’ve got because that’s the only way I’ve ever done this. The last few years flew by. I don’t know what’s next. All I’ve ever known is wrestling, grinding, and hustling. And for one more year…that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I trust the universe to meet me where I’m at – like it always has. Goodbye 2025. One last run.“

Goodbye 2025.
One last run. ✌️ pic.twitter.com/2PYWIbGQsd
— Mercedes Martinez 🏳️‍🌈🇵🇷 (@RealMMartinez) January 1, 2026

Martinez’s wrestling career began in November of 2000 and last wrestled this past November for New Horizon Pro Wrestling.

EC3 and Colby Corino Departs from NWA

EC3 announced on Thursday on Twitter that his contract with the National Wrestling Alliance has expired and he has departed from the company.

“MY TIME WITH THE NATIONAL WRESTLING ALLIANCE HAS COME TO AN END. I’m grateful for the opportunities I was given and the people I shared the work with. The Top 1% was never a “gimmick.” It is a standard. Future actions will reflect that.
LEGACY BECOMING IS SELF-OVERCOMING… MAN THE #overMAN YEAR AS NWA WORLDS CHAMPION MATTERED TO ME Over 80 defenses, across four continents. Initiating collaborations, building momentum, opening doors. Work done. Responsibility carried. Asses kicked.
THERE WERE MOMENTS I’M ESPECIALLY PROUD OF: SAMHAIN, in my home base of Cleveland, Ohio against Latimer. The ULTIMATE MATCH or DEATH against Cardona. Defending the championship in my first (and only) match against Jax Dane.And yes, I retired Tyrus. You’re welcome.
That run came with wear. It came with cost. It came with people showing up. Being champion isn’t just about “holding gold” and performing. It’s about carrying weight when no one’s watching. I treated the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship with respect; for its history, its legacy, and what it’s meant to represent.
LEGACY REQUIRES A STANDARD. I’M PROUD OF THE WORK
PROOF ALONGSIDE PERFORMING, I HELPED ESTABLISH EXODUS PRO AS THE NA’S FIRST TERRITORY. BUILT ON STANDARDS, SELF-DIRECTED CREATIVITY, AND LEGITIMATE TALENT DEVELOPMENT.
Multiple wrestlers who came through our system went on to appear on the NWA main roster. That wasn’t by accident. That was culture producing results.
I’m proud of them. They know. Leadership in wrestling is rarely discussed, and even rarer to see practiced. It means taking the calls, answering the questions, and holding space. Being available in ways that never show up on a card or a poster.
It isn’t something you’re asked to do. It’s something you step into when the role demands it. That’s how you show respect for the work.
Building the future matters to me. That work continues.
-ec3

pic.twitter.com/tnSb6fNMep
— ecIII (@therealec3) January 1, 2026

Besides EC3, Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that Colby Corino’s contract with the NWA also has expired and he is currently a free agent.

Prior to their departures, EC3 had been with the NWA since August of 2022 and Corino had been with the NWA since June of 2023.

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

Limitless Wrestling recently announced that HOOK will be making his official debut appearance for the company at their Limitless Rumble 2025 event on January 16th in Lewiston, Maine.

Major League Wrestling recently announced that Okumura is the next official competitor for next year’s Battle Riot match at their Battle Riot VIII event on January 29, 2026 in Kissimmee, Florida.

Pro Wrestling EVE recently announced that Jamie Hayter and Stardom talent AZM will be making an appearance for the company at their Wrestle Queendom 8 event on March 8th in London, England.

This past Wednesday’s Here Lies The Crown 2025 event for Beyond Wrestling in Worcester, Massachusetts featured Krule defeating Bear Bronson to become the new IWTV Independent Wrestling World Champion.

Former WCW and WWE wrestler William Regal recently issued a statement on Twitter asking people who made a “cent” using his name to donate money to financially help Japanese wrestling legends Yoshihiro Takayama and Shinjiro Otani. Takayama has been paralyzed from the neck down since suffering a spinal cord injury in 2017 and Otani has been recovering since also suffering a serious spinal-related injury in April of 2022. Regal stated “My first and maybe only message this year involving Wrestling. FYI, I never read anything unless it’s old wrestling or music and old comedy so save the typing time and your head space by replying. I wish you all contentment , happiness and good health. I won’t be reading anything except my x2 weekly look at old wrestling. Too many people from too many companies send me all the things I do or don’t need! I have been using this platform since 2014 at least to warn and help future talent that I can’t talk to directly. Over 32 years in the US and Japan showing people how to be safer if they wanted to know or listen without ever asking for a thank you. I’ll quote my dear friend of 26 year Samoa Joe and say “ it’s a laundry list” of people. I will ask this though. If you’ve made 1 cent of using my name in 2025, please send that money to the official organizations who care for my friends [@otani_shinjiro] and [@Takayamado]. Press the anonymous button as it’s not a tax right off for you or you to try and look like nice people. It’s the right thing to do. To everyone else, best wishes for 2026.”

Indies wrestler Tony Deppen recently announced on Twitter that he will be taking the first half of 2026 off for his wrestling career due to mental health related reasons. Deppen stated “2025 stole a lot of things from me: friends, family, my pets, but worst of all, it stole my spark and passion for life, wrestling, and just being me. It hasn’t been a good year by any means, and I know a lot of people are feeling it too. Through this trying year, I found myself dreading lacing up my shoes, putting on gear, or even getting into a ring; which is something I’ve never felt over the last 20 years, and if my heart isn’t into it, l don’t want to waste my time, money, or other people’s money. So, i decided that I’l be taking off for the first half of 2026 to get my head straight, and my body straight cause it’s no not where it should be to perform. This definitely isn’t, “good-bye” it’s a, “see-ya” in a bit, so I can come back into my best form. I know there’s more left in this tank, I know it. I just need to feel, “it” again. I don’t care if I come back and get 5-6 bookings, the only thing that matters to me, is I come back and end things on my terms and not me coasting to he lash few months while hurting the reputation i built these last two decades. Take it easy. See yall in a bit. Also, fuck this stupid app. It may be the fucking worst.“

Tessa Blanchard announced on Instagram that she recently got engaged to CMLL talent Esfinge.

TNA Wrestling recently announced three new matches for the card of next week’s TNA Impact! show on AXS TV and Sportsnet 360:

TNA International Championship – Steve Maclin vs. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo (c)
Eight-Man Tag Team match – The System (JDC, Eddie Edwards, Brian Myers, & Moose) vs. The Hardys (Matt & Jeff Hardy), Cedric Alexander, & Leon Slater
Dani Luna vs. Harley Hudson

Prestige Wrestling recently announced one new match for the card of their Roseland XIII event, which will be their final ever event, on February 20th in Portland, Oregon:

Minoru Suzuki vs. Matt Brannigan

Game Changer Wrestling recently announced one new match for the card of their One Night Only event on January 3, 2026 in Berwyn, Illinois:

Krule vs. The Bev