Well, Thank you to Mercedes, who despite a busy schedule, has returned the interview, and I hope you all enjoy it. One of the Northeasts finest female competitors IMO is an interesting read. Feel free to comment on the indy thread, and watch for more interviews coming soon..Thank you as always for your interest. Scott.
1. What made you decide to become a pro wrestler? Was it someone you saw on TV, a live event or what?
I always wanted to either become a pro bball player, a police officer, or a pro wrestler. I remember watching wrestling when I was young with my lil bro as well as my uncle. I officially got hooked after watching GLOWW. I saw all these female wrestlers kicking ass just like the guys I see on WWF at the time. It was great to pretend and wrestle my uncle and my lil bro as I wanted to be just like those women wrestlers and beat up the boys as well...lol
2. Its known by many that you trained w Jason Knight. Describe how a typical training regimen was for you. Also, did Jason have any special training because you were a woman, or did you have to "keep up" so to speak.
Well Jason Knight treated everyone as equals regardless of gender. I was treated like the boys and that's how I would've wanted it anyway I never wanted any special treatment and I figured I wanted to be considered an athlete and not just a woman wrestler.jasons training was tough as we would do a lot of ab workouts, squats and stretching even before we did a lockup. We also did a lot of cardio(as in running the ropes) and a lot of bumping before we even learned how to do a lockup. He wanted to make sure we had the respect for this business before teaching us the business and distinguish the backyarders from the ppl who really wanted to learn.
After a hr or so of all that, then we actually learned the wrestling holds and make sure we were doing everything right before learning anything else. It was tough but I wouldn't have it any other way as that training prepared me to become who I am today. I picked up on everything real quick and in return, I had my first match after 4 weeks of training.
3. To this point in your wrestling career, who do you feel have been your biggest influences on your career?
Wow... I have a lot of influences. Jason knight being the biggest as well as Afa who we call Pops in wxw. Them 2 alone help me in my career with learning and respecting this business as it should be. I still learn from pops as I am a constant in wxw. I would also say angel orsini as I traveled with her a lot in my early yrs in this business. Just seeing how she worked and what she had to endure taught me a lot how this business works in the eyes of a female wrestler.
4. Can you recall who your first match was with, and your thoughts on it?
My first match was after 4 weeks of training. It was at the Albanian club in my hometown of Waterbury, CT against a tall powerhouse man who went by the name of the Juice. I was nervous and scared out of my mind. I didn't even have ring boots as well as ring gear. I ended up wearing my magnum boots(which I still wear to this day as I never bought wrestling boots), and picked up a black tanktop and red pants as I had no idea what my character was going to be like. I ended up beating the guy with a top rope crossbody. I never felt so much adrenaline as I did that day. The crowd exploded as I just beat this huge guy and it was my first match ever. After that I realized I can wrestle with the guys as well as the girls and no1 can't tell me I can't. I prove that everytime I'm in the ring with a male wrestler as I hit him just as hard as he can hit me but prolly harder. I have no fear in the ring after that match.
5. You have worked all over, for all types of promotions. Describe some of your favorite places you have wrestled, and why. Also, though this could be hard, if there was one "favorite moment", be it just a 'moment" or a favorite match, what would it be, and why?
Wow, I worked for a lot of different promotions so this is a lil hard.
Ill name a few and keep this short. Lol I love workin for WXW as they have given me a lot of opportunities to showcase my talent all over the world. WXW is family to me as afa is known to all of us as pops. He basically is like our father in and out of the ring. I respect WXW and will do every show for them if I could but I am always loyal to them and thank them for everything they have done for me thus far.
Of my favorites places I have gone to is alaska and that was with WXW. It was a tour to wrestle and give back to our troops. The plane ride sucked as it was way too long to be in a plane and you could only sleep for so long and sit for so long. Lol ....but I would do it all over again. We had to take a plane in between cities in alaska at one point and the time difference was horrible as well as their 6months night and 6months day. We went in sept so it was getting ready to change over to their 6months night. But its a beautiful place. We wrestled on mats as there was no wrestling ring. Wrestling on a mat hurts as there is barely any cushion but I dealt with it as it was for a great cause. I would do this trip again in a heartbeat.
Since we are talking about WXW, I would have to say that a favorite match of mine for this company or a moment would be when I wrestled Wesna from germany. This match was very stiff and very hard hitting for a womans match in WXW. This was my first time wrestling Wesna and I would love to get back in the ring with her. This match had it all and it would be 1 of my top best matches thus far.
Another place for me that I loved working for would be PWU in philly, pa. The fans there are insane and I love those fans. Just being in the ring at the alhambra arena with those philly fans, gives me the chills as I always want to give 150% or more just because im there. I love the philly fans.
SHIMMER...what can I say bout this promotion. I love working for dave prazak as he gives women wreslting the credit it deserves. We are seen as athletes and not eye candy. The fans are awesome as they have respect for us as athletes and know how hard we work to put on a great match for them. I know there are more promotions I work and I could keep writing about all of them, but I said ill keep it short...lol
6. Sadly, you have suffered some injuries, especially shoulder injuries in your career. Was there ever a time that you got so down, you weren't sure you wanted to return? During your time on the shelf, what did you do to keep up w the business, or did you just need to step away?
Well, the shoulder injury sucked big time but it had to be done as it hurt my personal life as well. This was the hardest time ever in my professional career to be away from something I love so much for a whole year nonetheless. For that whole yr, I didn't want to be associated with wrestling or even watch it on tv. I knew if I wanted to be 110% or better, I had to concentrate on the lil things and not rush into getting back as wrestling is my life. I knew if I watched it and gone to shows that I would rush to be come back way too soon and probaly injure myself again.
The time away gave me a sense of relaxation if you could believe that. My body had time to heal as well as I was able to spend quality time with my family as this business takes away from spending time with them.
I def felt at times that I didn't want to return as I felt that maybe I did all that I could up to that pt and maybe its was that whole line of "if ur not seen, then ur forgotten", but I have the greatest fans in the world and they def put a smile on my face and that was a big factor in keeping me in the business.
7. The Indy world has it share of problems, and positives. If you could put a bandaid on indy wrestling, what would you do to make it a lot better for the workers, fans, etc?
Well, in my opinion, companies should stop running on the same day. It not only poses a problem for workers as we try to do a lot of double shots to make everyone happy but it can be hectic and stressful.
We all want a payday and make a living out of this business but I think promoters should give some leway in letting us do doubles especially if a worker havs a major storyline in the companies that are running that night. But to each its own.
Also, I think the fans should just be that..fans. Sometimes fans want to get wy too personal with the wrestlers and as friendly as we can be, they need to rememeber to respect our privacy and enjoy us for what we did that night. I love my fans and some can get a lil annoying and im such a nice person I try not to forget anyone and try to mingle and talk and be "normal" with the fans, but sometimes its gets a lil too much. Lol
I don't like the politics and the bs of wrestling and I try not to get involved in it so with that ill end this subject..lol
8. Recently, local favorites. Talia, and Nikki Roxx have made it in TNA. Describe your feelings on these two ladies, and also, do you feel that your track record should give you a similar opportunity?
I think its great that these 2 ladies have made it to tna. Talia I trained with at jason knights school and many times we have trained with each other and wrestled each other. I give talia credit for putting sex appeal with wrestling. She keeps it balance and makes it work for her. I wish her nothing but the best and everytime I see her, she gets better and better from that first time I saw her step in the ring.
Nikki roxx is a awesome worker. I think she has come along way from when I first saw her as well. Im glad she stepped away from being part of a tag to being a singles star as it was just holding her back. I believe mexico helped her and influenced her to become such a versatile wresler. I had many matches with nikki and its always amazing me how great this girl can work. She teaches me something new everytime im in the ring with her. All in all, I think they deserve what they got thus far as I know they worked hard for it.
As far as getting a similar opportuntiy, I feel time can only tell. My style of wrestling is very different and if fate has it that I get the opportunity to showcase it on tna, then it will happen. I leave it all to gods hands and all I can do is just keep putting on great matches and show the world what mercedes martinez is all about.
9. This may be a bit related to a previous ?, but what do you feel has been your most difficult, so to say grueling match, to this point in your career?
Hmmmm...well ill have to say there is a couple of matches that are difficult and grueling thus far. 1 that sets the standard would be my first encounter with sumie sakai. That girl literally came off the plane and into the ring with me in her us debut. She couldn't speak a work of english so there was no communicating with her. Her style was so different to what I was used to but she def have given me great classic matches that have defined to be a great wrestler with anyone and adapt to diff styles of wrestling.
Another match would be Wesnafrom germany. As I described earlier, she def is as raw as they get and gave me a hard hitting match She id def a great talent and no one should overlook her.
Sara del ray is another wrestler I had grueling matches with. I had my feud with her in shimmer and we always put 150% into the matches. We literally beat the hell outta each other for the sake of a great classic match and for the fans. She def doesn't hold back anything and I wouldn't haveit any other way as it makes me give more intensity and fire to win.
10. Have u ever been involved in training aspiring wrestlers, or if not, would you like to do that someday?
I try to give advice to any wrestlers that ask me. If need be I will get in the ring and train with them and teach them the way I was taught. In jason knights school, I had the opportunity to train students and its def stressfull and I had to be patient. But it was a great opportunity and I hope that anyone who I help trained learned something valuable and helped them in their career of becoming a pro wrestler.
11. If a young aspiring wrestler came up to you, and asked you for your thoughts on whether she should go into wrestling, how would you respond, including any advice you would give her, on how to become a success?
I would say if this is your dream then go for it. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it. Woman wrestlers have it more tougher than men as they are seen as rats aka whores so I def will tell them if ur serious about it, separate business from pleasure as you want your reputation to be that of a wrestler and not as a rat.
Give it 150% or more if this is what you want. Learn everything about this business and don't ever think you learner it all as I still learn after 8yrs.
Talk to the veterans if you geta chance and pick their brain, study old school tapes and study overseas tapes as they can give you an insight into physcology.Practice practice and practice. Always train as the only way you are going to be great is to learn your craft.
Stay humble and don't get a big head. It turns wrestlers and promoter away as they think you are too good for this business and a lot of workers will try to put u down and show you that you are not as great as you think you are. Always have a positive attitude and be willing to learn frome evryone.
12. Please feel free now, Mercedes, to add anything you like that we haven't covered, for the fans, and again, thank you very much.
I just want to say thank you to the fans. Without them I wouldn't have gotten the respect and the recognition thus far in my career. The fans is a big reason why I wrestle and they give me the adrenaline to keep going.
To all the promotions that have taken a chance on me, thank you. Without that chance I would have never gotten the opportunity to travel to different states and showcase my talents.
I am forever grateful to all that have helped me to this pt of my career and I hope there are many new companies that will take a chance on mercedes martinez.
I truly hope that I have paved the way for women wrestlers to be considered athletes and not just eye candy and I hope that I have helped every women wrestler that have asked for my advice to get to that next level.
Thank you for your respect, your support and most of all, your love because without it all, I would not be the latina sensation mercedes martinez.
God bless. |
