09/01/2026
SHINE Wrestling Announces 16-Woman Tournament to Crown New SHINE Nova Champion
Tournament to take place October 11 in Clearwater, Florida, as part of historic SHINE Wrestling and Lingerie Fighting Championships double-header
CLEARWATER, Fla. — August 31, 2026 — World Wrestling Network (WWN) and SHINE Wrestling today announced that, following the retirement of legendary professional wrestler Mercedes Martinez, a 16-woman tournament will be held to crown a new SHINE Nova Champion on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at the OCC Road House & Museum in Clearwater, Florida.
The tournament will take place as part of SHINE 89, which will be presented as part of the historic single-night double-header featuring SHINE Wrestling and Lingerie Fighting Championships.
While the tournament will determine the next woman to carry the SHINE Nova Championship, the evening will also serve as an opportunity to recognize the incredible legacy Mercedes Martinez leaves behind in SHINE Wrestling.
Martinez is one of the most accomplished competitors in SHINE history and one of only two Triple Crown Champions in the promotion’s history, having captured the SHINE Championship, SHINE Tag Team Championship and SHINE Nova Championship during her career.
From the moment she stepped into a SHINE ring, Martinez established herself as one of the most respected, feared and accomplished competitors in women’s professional wrestling. Her combination of physicality, technical ability, intensity and veteran leadership helped define SHINE Wrestling during some of the most important periods in the promotion’s history.
“Mercedes Martinez is synonymous with SHINE Wrestling,” said WWN CEO Sal Hamaoui. “She has been a champion, a leader, a mentor and one of the women who helped establish SHINE as an important destination for women’s professional wrestling. When you look at the history of SHINE, Mercedes’ name is impossible to separate from it. Being one of only two Triple Crown Champions tells you everything you need to know about what she accomplished here.”
“Obviously, we wish Mercedes nothing but the best in her retirement. But we also wanted to make sure that the next chapter of the SHINE Nova Championship began in a way that reflected the importance of the title and the woman who helped make it what it is today. A 16-woman tournament gives 16 athletes the opportunity to create their own moment and, potentially, begin their own legacy in SHINE.”
The 16-woman tournament will feature competitors from across the world of professional wrestling, with the winner becoming the newest SHINE Nova Champion.
The SHINE Nova Championship has historically served as one of the most competitive championships in women’s professional wrestling, providing a platform for emerging stars and established veterans alike. The tournament will give 16 women the opportunity to compete for a championship while simultaneously becoming part of SHINE history.
SHINE 89 takes place Sunday, October 11, 2026, at the OCC Road House & Museum in Clearwater, Florida. The event will be part of a unique double-header with Lingerie Fighting Championships, bringing two premier combat sports brands together for one night and one ticket.
Doors open at 4:00 PM, with the action beginning at 5:00 PM.
Additional tournament participants and first-round matchups will be announced in the coming weeks.
ABOUT SHINE WRESTLING
SHINE Wrestling is one of the leading women’s professional wrestling promotions in the United States, showcasing some of the world’s top female professional wrestlers. Since its launch, SHINE has provided a platform for established stars and emerging talent while producing championship-level professional wrestling events for fans around the world.
ABOUT WORLD WRESTLING NETWORK
World Wrestling Network (WWN) is a professional wrestling and live-event organization responsible for promotions and brands including SHINE Wrestling and Full Impact Pro (FIP). WWN produces live professional wrestling events, digital content and entertainment experiences featuring talent from across the wrestling industry.
