WWE Raw took place on September 14, 2026, at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, headlined by Roman Reigns defending his WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Mexican wrestling icon Penta. Despite the fervent hometown crowd rallying behind Penta, Roman Reigns retained his title after a dramatic sequence including a Superman Punch followed by his signature Spear. Although Penta came close to an upset and received chants of “si se puede,” Reigns weathered the hostile environment to continue his dominant solo reign in 2026.

The article argues that WWE missed a major business opportunity by not having Penta win the championship. With recent successful title changes in Mexico and nearby Chile boosting international viewership, Penta capturing the title could have elevated him to legendary status in Mexico and expanded WWE’s influence in the lucrative Hispanic market. Nielsen's revamped measurement methodology now favors Spanish-speaking audiences, further amplifying the potential impact a Penta victory would have on TV ratings and market competition, particularly against rival promotions like AEW.

Other notable matches from the event include Chad Gable successfully defending the Intercontinental Title against Dragon Lee, and Je'Von Evans and Lola Vice winning qualifiers for the Money in the Bank ladder matches. The opening segment saw a heated confrontation involving Rey Mysterio, Stephanie Vaquer—who regained the Women’s World Heavyweight Championship recently—and allies, setting a tense tone with The Judgment Day stable attacking babyfaces El Grande Americano and Vaquer.

WWE Raw also featured impressive fan reactions throughout the night, with loud chants and passionate support for lucha libre stars underscoring the show’s international appeal. Despite the excitement and strong performances, the decision to keep the world title on Roman Reigns in Mexico City has drawn criticism for lacking business foresight and emotional payoff. Forbes suggests that embracing Penta as champion could significantly benefit WWE’s growth in Latin America and Spanish-speaking markets, beyond just storyline considerations.