AEW's Latest Roster Departures Include Former World Champion (AEW News)
Tony Khan has kicked off 2026 by letting 3 wrestlers go. Here's who AEW has parted ways with!
Most of the chat surrounding AEW departures is currently focused around one Chris Jericho, and understandably so, but no less than 3 different names just saw their All Elite careers go up in smoke: Mercedes Martinez, Matt Taven and manager Alex Abrahantes. That trio was officially cut loose and removed from the AEW roster page on 5 January.
As noted by The Wrestling Observer, Martinez previously stated that 2026 would be her final year as an active pro wrestler. On top of that, Mercedes won't accept a contract with any company - instead, she'll dedicate the final 12 months of her career to the independent circuit.
Martinez is clearly the highest profile release of the trio, at least in terms of AEW. She's a former ROH Women's World Champion (holding the belt first as interim champ before then enjoying a whopping 220 day reign between May-December 2022). Now, Mercedes will do everything she can to help the next generation of independent workers learn and grow.
That's an admirable way to go out.
Taven, who is a former ROH World Champ and ROH Tag-Team Champion, will set out on his own too. He'd been working as Mike Bennett's tag partner in The Kingdom since joining AEW several years ago, and had been considered one of Honor's top names before Tony Khan's ownership kicked in.
Abrahantes previously appeared as a manager for The Lucha Bros and Komander on All Elite screens, but he's also been been part of the Spanish-language broadcast team internationally.
Good luck to all 3 workers in the future. Fingers crossed that Martinez enjoys a fabulous retirement year.