Mercedes Martinez set for NXT number one contender’s battle royal
After being confirmed as one of the newest WWE Performance Center signees, it won’t take long for Mercedes Martinez to appear on NXT television.
It was announced during Tuesday’s WWE Backstage that Martinez will be one of the entrants in the number one contender’s battle royal on this week’s NXT. The winner will challenge for the NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver: Portland on Sunday, February 16.
Bianca Belair, Candice LeRae, Chelsea Green, Dakota Kai, Vanessa Borne, Kayden Carter, Mia Yim, Santana Garrett, Io Shirai, Shotzi Blackheart, and Xia Li are also advertised for the battle royal.
NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley will have a title defense before TakeOver: Portland. Toni Storm is challenging for the title at Worlds Collide on Saturday, January 25.
WWE confirmed on Tuesday that Martinez, Jake Atlas, “Titan Games” competitor Emily Andzulis, former NFL defensive lineman Anthony Francis, acrobat Sidney Bateman, and former college basketball player Zechariah Smith have signed with the company.
The first round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will also conclude on this week’s NXT. Kushida & Alex Shelley will face The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake), and Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne will take on Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.