WWE Raw’s upcoming event in Mexico City on September 14, 2026, features a highly anticipated main event with Roman Reigns defending the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Penta. Despite widespread fan speculation that the lucha libre tournament culminating at this event is designed simply to build up Reigns, there is significant potential for Penta to pull off a major upset in his home country. Penta, who left AEW alongside his brother Rey Fenix to bet on himself within WWE, has already established himself as an international star with an Intercontinental Championship reign, making a title win over Reigns a memorable moment for Mexican wrestling fans.

While rising star Oba Femi is positioned as a future challenger to Roman Reigns, especially given his refusal to acknowledge Reigns by name and his recent King of the Ring win, WWE’s current long-term plans suggest a more complex story. Oba Femi delayed a title challenge on Reigns after seeking revenge against Brock Lesnar, and the buildup indicates a major eventual match between Femi and Reigns is planned, likely for WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Penta’s victory at WWE Raw in Mexico City could act as a short-term disruption to this script, injecting excitement and elevating Penta’s status on a global stage.

Beyond the match itself, WWE faces a challenge in generating strong ticket sales for the Survivor Series WarGames event set for the 40,000-seat Daikin Park. The newly formed stable 946 has disrupted Raw’s main event scene, attacking both the Usos and babyface team members. Roman Reigns has thus far avoided directly confronting this faction, delegating enforcement duties to Jacob Fatu, signaling an upcoming high-profile WarGames showdown. A Penta championship reign, even a brief one, could serve to heighten tension by forcing Reigns into the conflict, giving fans a compelling reason to attend and engage with the storyline.

This scenario also echoes a similar short title reign experienced by Lex Luger in WCW in 1997, where a shock champion change created excitement without derailing long-term plans. If Penta briefly dethrones Reigns, it could pave the way for a champion vs. champion bout against CM Punk at WWE’s Worlds Collide event, scheduled to compete with AEW’s All Out pay-per-view. That clash would mark a first-time WWE encounter between Penta and Punk, generating additional buzz and helping WWE counter AEW’s competitive live shows. Overall, a Penta victory represents a strategic move to invigorate WWE storylines and bolster fan interest in a critical phase of the company’s yearly programming.