In an emotionally charged moment at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, former AEW star Penta made his highly anticipated WWE debut on Monday Night Raw.
The veteran luchador’s family watched from ringside as he scored an impressive victory over Chad Gable, marking the beginning of what he called “the Penta new era.”
The night proved especially moving for Penta’s wife and daughter, who were brought to tears as they witnessed this milestone in his wrestling career.
After securing the win with his signature Penta Driver, the masked superstar shared a touching moment with his family at ringside, embracing them as emotions ran high.
Seeing Penta's family proud was a beautiful thing!! Loved his debut! #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/zDiCFJ8SPo
— ChanMan (@ChandranTheMan) January 14, 2025
The match itself showcased Penta’s exceptional abilities that have made him a globally recognized figure in professional wrestling.
Despite Gable’s focused attack on his left leg and a devastating German suplex off the ring apron, Penta demonstrated the high-flying maneuvers and creative offense that have become his trademark.
The crowd erupted as he executed a beautiful Mexican Destroyer and ultimately reversed Gable’s ankle lock into his patented arm destroyer, known as “The Sacrifice.”
Triple H: "just sell the leg a little…"
— Wrestlelamia.com (@wrestlelamia) January 14, 2025
PENTA: pic.twitter.com/mB7vEX05Ew
In a post-match interview with WWE reporter Jackie Redmond, Penta expressed his gratitude in both English and Spanish.
“This is my new home,” he declared, his family still emotional at ringside.
“The real truth is I’ve been waiting for this moment.”
Via USAToday
He also took time to thank his supporters in Mexico, acknowledging his roots while embracing his new chapter in WWE.
The debut exceeded expectations, though it reportedly ran longer than planned.
According to PWInsider’s Mike Johnson, the combination of the 13-minute match and Penta’s post-match promo led to time adjustments for other segments.
Despite some backstage concerns about timing, management was reportedly pleased with both the debut and the crowd’s enthusiastic response.
Penta’s journey to WWE has been notable. After making his name in Mexico’s AAA promotion, he gained widespread recognition in Lucha Underground, where he became a two-time champion.
His success continued through stints in Impact Wrestling and AEW, where he and his brother Rey Fénix formed the popular Lucha Bros team, capturing both the AEW World Tag Team and Trios Championships.
The build-up to Penta’s debut began with mysterious vignettes on Raw, featuring his iconic mask and alluding to his “Cero Miedo” catchphrase.
The anticipation reached its peak when Chad Gable challenged “the best luchador” General Manager Adam Pearce could find, setting the stage for Penta’s dramatic entrance.
WWE’s confidence in their new signing was evident even before his first appearance, as they began selling his merchandise on WWE Shop hours before his debut.
Early reports suggest strong merchandise sales, adding to the positive reception of his arrival.
As the San Jose crowd chanted “Cero Miedo!” throughout the night, it became clear that Penta’s unique charisma and in-ring style have already connected with the WWE Universe.
With his family’s emotional support and the backing of management, Penta’s WWE journey has begun on a promising note, suggesting an exciting future for the masked superstar on Monday nights.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Penta was a pioneering force in intergender wrestling, having memorable matches against current WWE stars Chelsea Green and Iyo Sky during his time in Lucha Underground.
- Along with his brother Rey Fénix, Penta achieved success in Ring of Honor, capturing the ROH World Tag Team Championship in 2023.
- While many expected both Penta and his brother Fénix to join WWE together, plans changed when AEW added injury time to Fénix’s contract.
