NXT Superstar Mercedes Martinez opens up about her journey to NXT after competing for 19 years. Martinez speaks about what it means to make her Royal Rumble debut.

The Latina Sensation explains that her intense victory over Kacy Catanzaro was just the beginning

Back from the break and we get a vignette for Mercedes Martinez.

Mercedes Martinez vs. Kacy Catanzaro

We go to the ring and out comes Mercedes Martinez. Kacy Catanzaro is out next. We get a video package on Catanzaro as she makes her entrance. The bell rings and they go to lock up but Kacy goes behind. They briefly tangle and Martinez hits a big Spinebuster in the middle of the ring for a 2 count.

Martinez works Kacy over in the corner. Martinez with a suplex now, holding Kacy in the air with one arm. Kacy counters, drops Martinez and then nails a dropkick. Kacy with a head scissors takedown and a corner clothesline. Kacy keeps going but Martinez rocks her. Kacy with a big takedown for another close 2 count. Kacy tries to come in from the apron but Martinez knocks her out of the air, out to the floor. Martinez follows and works Kacy over on the floor, sending her face-first into the ring post. Martinez sends Kacy back-first into the apron again as the referee counts, then into the barrier to keep control.

Martinez sends Kacy back into the barrier and then brings her into the ring. Martinez nails her Fisherman’s Buster in the middle of the ring for the pin to win. After the match, Martinez poses on the ropes as her music hits.

Battle Royal to Crown a New #1 Contender: Tegan Nox, Mercedes Martinez, Bianca Belair, Candice LeRae, Vanessa Borne, Kayden Carter, Mia Yim, Santana Garrett, Io Shirai, Shotzi Blackheart, Xia Li, Kacy Catanzaro, Shayna Baszler, Catalina, MJ Jenkins, Deonna Purrazzo, Jessi Kamea, Indi Hartwell

We go to the ring for tonight’s main event and out first comes Candice LeRae. Mia Yim is out next, followed by Bianca Belair. The winner will challenge NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley at “Takeover: Portland” in February. Kacy Catanzaro is out next for her return. Mercedes Martinez is out next to a pop. Back to commercial.

Back from the break and out comes Io Shirai to a pop. Tegan Nox is out next and Shayna Baszler follows. The bell rings and here we go. Belair works on Shotzi Blackheart. Vanessa Borne works on LeRae. Catalina and Mercedes go at it. Mauro mentions Nigel will be back next week and is enjoying some time off.

MJ Jenkins tries to knock Santana Garrett off the apron. Baszler works on eliminating Jenkins now. Jenkins is the first elimination. Shirai and Santana go at it now. Nox works on Vanessa Borne. Belair eliminates Jessi Kamea. Mercedes and Baszler trade shots. Baszler eliminates Catalina from the top. Mercedes works on Santana in the corner now. Carter works on dumping Baszler out.

Baszler works on Carter but she hangs on. Yim fights out of the corner on Nox it looks like. Kacy gets involved with Carter and saves herself but Baszler comes charging. Kacy flies over Baszler but Baszler nails Carter, knocking her off the apron. Carter has been eliminated. We go back to commercial.

Back from the break and Baszler kicks Garrett off the apron to eliminate her. Yim works on Borne, nailing Protect Ya Neck. Indi Hartwell was eliminated during the break. Yim eliminates Borne. Shotzi eliminates Purrazzo. Deonna brings Shotzi under the bottom rope and levels her on the floor with a big kick. Shotzi is still in the match. Shirai with a Flapjack on Xia Li. Belair, Baszler and Shirai triple team Xia now. Xia gets up and fights them all off. Belair and Baszler eliminate Xia.

Kacy springboards up but Shirai decks her, then dropkicks her to the floor. Kacy has been eliminated. Fans chant for Shirai. Belair taunts LeRae and works her over with forearms. Baszler works on Yim. Mercedes watches from the corner. Shirai works on Nox. Belair eliminates LeRae and talks some trash as fans boo the elimination.

Yim sends Mercedes to the apron but she hangs on. Martinez eliminates Yim with a big suplex to the floor. Baszler meets Mercedes in the middle of the ring as fans pop. They face off and stare each other up and down. Belair, Nox and Shirai are also still in the match, as is Shotzi but she’s on the floor still. Baszler and Mercedes unload on each other with strikes in the middle of the ring while the others are down recovering. Martinez with chops. Baszler counters a suplex and applies the Kirifuda Clutch. Mercedes comes out and tries to dump Baszler. Baszler eliminates Mercedes.