Mercedes Martinez is ready to prove that she’s still one of the best wrestlers in the world.
Mercedes Martinez recently spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor ahead of her title opportunity against Knockouts Champion Mickie James at IMPACT Wrestling’s Turning Point special. Martinez and James have a combined 40-plus years of experience in the ring, and the two look to show people that tenure matters in the wrestling business. Ageism has been a hot topic in wrestling as of late, but James recently tweeted out a message that highlights their experience as a benefit. Martinez agreed on that point and said that they can both still deliver, and that’s what they’ll do at Turning Point.
“We’ve seen it all on in our careers. And you know, we want to make sure — and I think that’s the point that she’s trying to sell — it doesn’t matter what our age is that we can still go and we can still deliver. It’s really the biggest thing, experience talks and you know if we can still deliver in that ring and give everybody a great match. Everyone can see what we still can deliver, then it doesn’t matter what our age is, and I think that’s the whole thing, no pun intended, it’s the whole turning point of this. You have two veterans in this business who’s seen it all, who’s been in companies back and forth, and is now getting a chance to be put pitted against each other for the Knockouts World Championship title. And we’re going to show the world that experience does matter. Experience does talk, and no matter what goes on in our careers,” she pointed out. “This is a match that you want to see. You’re going to see something different. You’re going to see something entertaining and exciting and just tune in to see what two veterans of this business who’s seen it and done it all are going to do to each other for one of the most coveted prizes in this business.”
.@MickieJames saves @RealMMartinez but NOTHING will stand between Mercedes and the Knockouts World Championship. #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/LPhN5LXYPu
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) November 12, 2021
Asked what she thinks needs to happen in order to dispel that notion, Mercedes Martinez said age doesn’t seem to be an issue for male wrestlers, but overall it should be about talent and what you can still do in the ring, and nothing else.
“I think it really comes down to what your talent is, what you can bring to the table,” Martinez said. “I think what has to happen is they have to look at us and just say if you can still deliver and you can still go, then go do what you need to do your job and do what you love to do. It’s not really up to them to tell us what age it is for us to stop. Yes, the younger talent is feistier, the younger talent may be more spontaneous and maybe they’re doing crazy stuff in the ring. Maybe that’s what it is that [some promoters] see; maybe ratings go up, I’m not sure.
“I think it just really comes down to well; maybe you need to put this younger talent with someone like a Mickie James or someone like a Mercedes, someone who has been in this business for a long time and teach them and help elevate their game. Because you don’t want to put these younger talents in a position that they’re not ready for. And us veterans in this business, whether we’re 30, 35, or however long they want to stop the gap,” Martinez said, “I think we have a lot to offer fans in the audience and more than just spontaneously. I think we can bring a different level of wrestling that people are not used to seeing anymore, bring that old school with a new school flavor we can mesh and adapt to any style.”
Martinez continued, saying that she believes talent knows enough to decide when they are done, and it should be up to them, not a promoter.
“I think most of us in this business know when to stop when our bodies can’t go no more. We can tell when our careers are dwindling down. Don’t let the companies tell us, and it’s a really big issue, and I think it really needs to be brought into the forefront a lot more,” she added. “Talent has to speak for itself, and we as females have to stick together, and we have to understand that, hey, no one should tell us what we can and can’t do in that ring. No one should tell us that you know we have to stop at the age of 30 or 35 or whatever gap that they want to put us there because it should be the same across the board for males and females. It really should. And I don’t ever understand why they put in that gap. I really don’t.”
Mercedes Martinez challenges Mickie James for the IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Championship at Turning Point on Saturday, November 20. Martinez is also set to appear at a meet-and-greet session at IMPACT’s Sunday evening television tapings in Las Vegas. Watch our full interview at the top of this post and learn more about this weekend’s IMPACT Wrestling tapings in Las Vegas at this link.
.@MickieJames defends the Knockouts World Championship against @RealMMartinez at #TurningPoint THIS SATURDAY at 10/9c!
Be there LIVE in Vegas at @samstownlv: https://t.co/jcgWp0bNbl pic.twitter.com/hanKSTAmZ4
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) November 15, 2021
