Mercedes Martinez, who was one of the 13 released from NXT this past Friday, made her first public comments since getting cut.

In a long social media message, Martinez said that she never thought she would ever make it to WWE but she stayed dedicated, hustled, grinded, and sacrificed more than she could ever imagined to reach that goal.

“It took 20 years…but I wouldn’t change anything,” Martinez wrote, adding that the universe has a way of making things work out.

The 40-year-old thanked Triple H and WWE for giving her the opportunity of a lifetime and wrote that she understands this business is never a guarantee for anything, and that sometimes the risk is higher than the reward. “I’m grateful, blessed and humbled,” she continued.

She also thanked all those who have reached out to her and said that the overwhelming love will not go unnoticed.

Before closing, Martinez warned everyone not to count her out and the best of her is still yet to be seen. “I’m rebuilding myself and I know my worth, always have. My drive, dedication, perseverance and my hard knocks stubbornness says I have more to prove. I’m looking forward to THE NEXT CHAPTER!”

Martinez signed her WWE deal in January 2020 after competing in the 2017 and 2018 Mae Young Classic tournaments. She was unveiled as one of the members of Retribution, using the name Retaliation, but her stint there was short-lived and was removed from the group after a month before returning to NXT.