29-year-old star makes history; shares emotional message following WWE debut

A 29-year-old professional wrestler has created history by signing with WWE. She made her in-ring debut during a recent show.

The name in question is Martinez (aka Nikki Blackheart). She was invited for a tryout at the Performance Center in February and reportedly signed with the Stamford-based promotion in March. However, the global juggernaut officially announced her signing, along with three other stars (Mason Rook, Marcus Brown, and Lacey Simon), only recently.

Martinez competed inside the WWE ring for the very first time after the May 19 edition of NXT went off the air in a dark match against Skylar Raye. In her second match, she wrestled Masyn Holiday at an NXT House Show in Fort Pierce, Florida, on May 22. She secured wins in both the bouts.

Earlier today, Martinez took to X (formerly Twitter) to post a photo of herself standing alongside Shawn Michaels. The former CCW Women’s Champion noted that her heart was overflowing with gratitude as she pointed out that she was the first female Dominican wrestler to sign with the wrestling promotion.

“My heart is overflowing with gratitude. You’re looking the first female Dominican wrestler to sign with the WWE🥹🖤 let’s go !” Martinez wrote.

You can check out her tweet below:

Martinez shared an emotional message before her WWE tryout

Martinez had reportedly been on World Wrestling Entertainment’s radar since WrestleMania 41. She also received a lot of praise from Bayley before her trials in February.

Before her tryout, Martinez shared an emotional message on X. She expressed gratitude for everyone who supported her and claimed that she was ready to earn her place in the company.

“The biggest pinch me moment 🖤 I was officially invited to the @wwe tryout. My heart is overflowing with gratitude for all the moments experienced, all the people that have helped me in my journey, my coach, my loved ones, my classmates, all the promoters that took a chance on me, my lodestone girls, and all my supporters that believed in me from day one. I have so much more to say, but for now all I can say is THANK YOU !! 🖤And I’m ready to earn my place,” Blackheart wrote.

It will be interesting to see when Martinez appears on a televised show.