WWE Raw Returns to Mexico City With Roman Reigns Defending Title Against Penta

This is WWE Raw’s first return to Mexico City in 15 years, according to the announced event details.
Penta won the No. 1 contender tournament by defeating Laredo Kid in the opening round, La Parka in the second round and his brother Rey Fenix in the final.
Roman Reigns initiated the title match in coordination with AAA general manager Rey Mysterio, who organized the tournament to determine the challenger.
Chad Gable won the Intercontinental Championship from Penta at SummerSlam and later defended it against Rey Mysterio on the Aug. 17 episode of Raw, adding background to his title defense against Dragon Lee.
WWE Vault released previously unseen footage of Penta challenging Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship at a July 2025 live event in Mexico City; the video runs 21 minutes and six seconds.
WWE Raw returned to Mexico City on September 14, 2026, for the first time in 15 years, with PWTorch reporting Roman Reigns successfully defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Penta in a 22-minute main event. Penta earned the title shot by winning an eight-man lucha libre tournament organized by AAA General Manager Rey Mysterio, defeating Laredo Kid, La Parka, and his own brother Rey Fenix to claim the opportunity.
The sold-out show at Arena CDMX featured Money in the Bank qualifying matches across both brands, with Je'Von Evans and Lola Vice earning ladder match spots. KhelNow noted that Reigns reached a major milestone with his title defense, while Wrestling News Source indicated WWE is already planning a return to Mexico in 2027 following the event's strong reception.
Penta became the first Mexican challenger to face the World Heavyweight Champion on Raw in the modern era after triumphing in Rey Mysterio's tournament bracket. The lucha libre star defeated Laredo Kid in round one, then vanquished La Parka in the semi-finals. His crowning victory came against his brother Rey Fenix in the final, securing the championship opportunity in front of his home crowd at Arena CDMX.
Roman Reigns secured a hard-fought victory in the main event, dispatching Penta with a Superman Punch and Spear after 22 minutes of action. KhelNow reported that Reigns successfully defended his title despite fighting in hostile territory, cementing his dominance as World Heavyweight Champion. The decision to keep the belt on Reigns prioritized long-term championship stability heading into upcoming Premium Live Events.
ITR Wrestling highlighted that Bully Ray praised the Reigns-Penta match as superior to WrestleMania 42's main event, calling it one of the greatest title matches in recent memory. Penta's emotional post-match reaction underscored the honor of competing for the world title in his home country, though he fell short of the ultimate prize.
Chad Gable successfully defended the Intercontinental Championship against Dragon Lee, securing his title via ankle lock submission at 9:45 p.m. ET. Gable claimed the belt from Penta at SummerSlam in August before defending it again on the August 17 episode of Raw against Rey Mysterio. His victory over Dragon Lee continued his reign as one of Raw's most dominant mid-card champions.
Je'Von Evans punched his ticket to the Money in the Bank ladder match by pinning Big Cass in a Triple Threat qualifier at 9:10 p.m. ET. On the women's side, Lola Vice officially signed to the Raw brand after pinning Raquel Rodriguez in her Women's Money in the Bank qualifier. Both stars earned guaranteed spots in their respective ladder matches, opening new paths to championship opportunities.
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