Mercedes Martinez has long been regarded as one of the defining veterans of modern women’s professional wrestling. Across more than two decades in the industry, she built a reputation for physical intensity, technical credibility, and leadership in locker rooms ranging from independent promotions to major national companies. Her career includes work with WWE, AEW, Ring of Honor, SHIMMER, Shine Wrestling, Women Superstars Uncensored, Impact Wrestling, and numerous other promotions. After a college basketball injury redirected her path, she began training under Jason Knight in 2000 and made her in-ring debut later that year.

TNA in 2026 is in a fascinating place. It finally feels like a wrestling company moving forward instead of constantly reminding us of what it used to be. The move to AMC has given iMPACT a bigger platform, the roster has plenty of talent, and there is a genuine sense that TNA matters again. Being relevant again also raises expectations. I’m enjoying TNA, but I'm not going to pretend everything is clicking. 

Vipress has quietly built one of the most interesting careers on the independent wrestling scene and right now it feels like everything is starting to click.  

Wrestling, to me, has never just been about wrestling, and has never just been about body slams, wrestlers' entrances, bright lights, and fans going wild as wrestlers are thrown through tables. It's been about magic. It has filled the void of both noise and color in my life in the moments when they existed the least. It's been my escape, my comfort, my adrenaline, and in a lot of ways, my oldest friend.

There are countless pieces to Lyons’ career arts, combat sports, and a knack for the theatrical but the singularity of each component make her one of the most recognizable proponents of the NXT brand. Immediate and untamed energy is tied into everything she does. With a winning combination of swagger, confidence in her combat ability, and a presence built from years on the dance floor and stage, Lyons has a resume packed with experiences garnered from her years out of the squared circle. Though her career has been marred with injuries, she has the added benefit of having her fans anticipate the comeback as she trades in her viral sensation title for one of a serious contender.

Killer Kross is among the most compelling wrestlers on the planet. Not in terms of interesting or underrated. Compelling. Kross makes wrestling feel dangerous not because he is unsafe, but because he is the type of guy who seems to believe every entrance and every stare is the beginning of something not to be ignored and not to be taken lightly. For years, what Kross could have been, should have been, and what he should have been understood has been heavily discussed. However, it is safe to say the current run of Killer Kross has made this debate all but meaningless. Now, he doesn’t need anybody to support or allow him to go on with what he believes. He’s doing it. Now, he is proving the point everywhere independently, in MLW, in movies, in books, at conventions, and, of course, with Scarlett Bordeaux.

Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW) may sound misaligned on a summary level, but in practice, it's completely coherent. Due to its origins with the Insane Clown Posse (ICP), JCW combines hardcore wrestling with comedy, music, cult fandom, and, with its outsider-showmanship, wrestles its way into a market where larger and more prestigious wrestling companies have failed to survive. JCW has always been a welcoming and sincere atmosphere for fans where, as they say, "you're more than a fan". JCW has been more than an emotional outlet for wrestling fans, and that sincere atmosphere is their secret weapon.

Nyla Rose, known as The Native Beast, is an innovative performer and creator of character that has catalyzed conversations and brought much-needed first-hand insight into established interpersonal and professional concerns such as: earned representation, credibility, equal wrestling opportunities, and consideration in the fast-changing realm of women’s professional wrestling. Rose’s dedication, combined with her blend of talent, instinct and insight, has contributed to the establishing of AEW’s brand and identity. Rose’s contribution to professional wrestling has truly been pioneering and deserving of concurrent consideration with her AEW efforts at other promotions, such as Pro Wrestling EVE, and beyond.