Penta signed with WWE in January 2025, bringing over a decade of experience and championship wins to WWE Raw. His very first match was against Chad Gable on the January 13, 2025 Raw, which he won.
That led Gable on his journey to becoming El Grande Americano, setting off a year of intense wrestling and an icon being made. Since his return, he has apologized to him and stuck up for him several times. It looks like his reward will be here next week.
On the July 13, 2026 Raw, a number one contender’s gauntlet match will be held for Penta’s WWE Intercontinental Championship, which he won in March from Dominik Mysterio after Danhausen trickery.
Gable will compete against Dragon Lee, Ethan Page, Je’Von Evans, Joe Hendry, Mysterio, and Rusev to determine Penta’s opponent at SummerSlam next month. Given his journey so far and his connection with Penta, he has to be the wrestler to get the opportunity to challenge for the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam.
Chad Gable Will Be Motivated By Many Factors
This year’s SummerSlam will be extremely special for Gable. Like with Brock Lesnar, the PLE will be in his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota. That means that his family and friends will be there to cheer him on, which is always good.
It will also be the first PLE he’ll be competing in after he lost his mask to Ludwig Kaiser’s El Grande Americano at AAA Noche de los Grandes. Immediately losing after everything he did as Americano would be a terrible look for him.
That’s why he has to win the gauntlet match no matter if he comes on first, in the middle, or last next Monday. If he gets the championship opportunity, he’ll potentially become Intercontinental Champion in his hometown after a tremendously successful character arc.
He could beat the wrestler that inspired him to become Americano in the first place. Becoming the number one contender could set him up for another surge in popularity if he walks out of SummerSlam with championship gold.
The Others Will Use Up Energy on Their Rivals
Looking at the rest of the competitors, Gable would be the logical choice, even by ignoring his past with Penta and everything involving El Grande Americano.
Mysterio is in a huge feud with Danhausen, which has completely spiraled out of control, leading to his Judgment Day partner JD McDonagh facing him next Saturday at Saturday’s Night’s Main Event. That means that there’s a strong case for Danhausen interference when Mysterio is in the match.
Page and Rusev are an unstoppable duo who have had problems with Evans, Hendry, and Lee over the past several weeks. The three of them will try to do their best to stop one of the rising pair from winning. That leaves Gable, who has had issues with all of them, but not as bad as what’s happening right now. All of their energy will be depleted if he ends up coming in last. That will make it easy for him to steal the victory to face Penta at SummerSlam.
Will He End Up Getting the Win?
Since returning as himself last month, Chad Gable has apologized to the luchadores in the company and stood up for them while trying to fend off Page and Rusev. Even though all of them are involved in the gauntlet match, they have much bigger issues with each other than with him.
That should mean an easy victory and a trip to SummerSlam against Penta. However, no one knows the order in which they’re coming out to the ring next Monday. Also, he has to wrestle to win, as Penta can’t just randomly pick the winner himself.
But given where the PLE takes place and the fact that everyone else can’t stand each other, with the exception of Mysterio, who has his own problems to deal with involving Danhausen, he is the most likely winner. Victory means competing in his hometown for the Intercontinental Championship against his final opponent before becoming Americano. There’s no question that Gable winning the gauntlet match next Monday is the best decision.
