WWE Monday Night Raw – 9.14.26

It’s a big fight feel tonight as WWE wraps up its big weekend in Mexico City with a gigantic episode of Monday Night Raw. We’ve had three big title changes in three nights with Sami Zayn, Stephanie Vaquer and El Grande Americano all bringing home world championships. Will Penta be able to continue the streak or will The Tribal Chief stomp his plans into the ground in his first Raw match since the first Netflix episode in January 2025?

The last week in WWE: Raw / NXT / Evolve / Main Event / SmackDown / AAA TripleMania Night One and Night Two

Then, Now, Forever, TOGETHER.

THIS is Mexico City, Mexico, and THIS is Arena CDMX, a site that has hosted SmackDown and night two of TripleMania over the weekend (and a TripleMania every year since 2012). For the first time in fifteen years, Raw comes to us from Mexico. We are live on Netflix and presented by DoorDash. The fans are chanting so loud that they almost drown out Joe Tessitore’s intro. Tonight feels special. Before we go any further, let’s take a look at how Penta found his way into this World Championship match.

Arrivals! Roman Reigns steps off a plane while Penta arrives on a horse, riding through a sea of fans as the live crowd immediately starts the Penta chants again.

WWE Hall of Famer and AAA General Manager Rey Mysterio is first out to a crowd that sings every word of his theme. We have a modified entrance tonight with the smaller trons and no ramp. Raw General Manager Adam Pearce is in the ring to greet Rey as the Money in the Bank briefcases hang over the ring. Rey, with his neckbrace, welcomes us to Raw in Mexico for the first time in fifteen years. He’s proud to be a luchador and promotes AAA. He’s proud to represent Mexico. “Tonight’s going to be one of those nights, a historical night.” He sends us a video of the live event in Santiago, Chile, on Saturday night as Liv Morgan lost her Women’s World Championship against Stephanie Vaquer with guest referee, a match you can now watch exclusively on Club WWE (and all over social media).

Rey introduces WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer to lots of smoke and lots of applause and a song. She says it was the joy of her life to win back her title in her home. “Trouble” interrupts with Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio, two people who do not have gold around their waists. She yells about being screwed and tells Stephanie that she knows the only reason she won was because of Becky Lynch. Liv says that with or without the belt, she is the greatest Women’s World Champion of all time. She tells Rey that he is a deadbeat dad but really hit a low hanging around a “puta” like Stephanie. Man, he used to hang around the Filthy Animals. Dom tries to talk but the fans drown him out. “The only thing I see here is a deadbeat and a cheater!” Rey mocks Dom for losing his championship and decides we should watch a video of El Grande Americano defeating Dom for the AAA Mega Championship because he’s a horrible father.

Dom suggests a mixed tag and Pearce yells that Rey is not medically cleared as if Pearce didn’t throw a clearly electrocuted JD McDonagh into a match months ago. The music of AAA Mega Champion El Grande Americano hits and he comes out to a hero’s welcome. The fans sing “Ole, Ole” for him as Liv covers Dom’s ears. Americano accepts the mixed tag match in Rey’s place and Pearce makes it official.

AAA Mega Champion El Grande Americano & WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer (with WWE Hall of Famer & AAA General Manager Rey Mysterio) vs Dominik Mysterio & Liv Morgan

We come back from a break with a hot crowd and Americano taking it to Dirty Dom to the crowd’s delight. Liv tags in and smacks Americano but this is mixed tag rules, so Vaquer flies in and crossbodies Morgan. “La Premiera” chants reign as Liv shoves Stephanie into the Spanish announce table before rolling her back in. Liv knees Stephanie in the corner and rolls her up with a two. Liv hits her Three Amigos and into a dropkick. The men tag in and Americano nails a blockbuster for a two. Dom crotches Americano on the top rope and dropkicks the champ to the floor to send us to a break so we can learn about XOLAIR.

We return to Americano suplexing Mysterio and going to tag Vaquer, only for Liv to yank Vaquer off the apron. Dom superkicks Americano who rebounds into scooping Dom up into an Air Raid for a two. Morgan and Vaquer tag in and Vaquer catches Liv with a running slam and a two. Liv slips away and boots Vaquer who just stares at her, yanking her leg with the dragon screw. Stephanie pounds Morgan to the mat with the Devil’s Kiss and then nails a running Meteora. Dom runs in for the distraction and Liv hits a Codebreaker on Stephanie. Dom attacks and sets Dom up in the 619 position, Liv slapping him. Americano tells her to turn around and Stephanie kicks Liv on Dom’s back. Stephanie hits the 619 on both opponents and both head up top before JD McDonagh, WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez interfere for the DQ.

Rey helps fight the odds before Dom grabs his dad by the neckbrace and drags him in the ring. Americano makes the save and McDonagh nails Americano with his large head. McDonagh moonsaults onto Americano and Liv hits Oblivion on Vaquer, the beatdown on. Dom frog splashes his father and the Judgment Day stands tall once again.

El Grande Americano & Stephanie Vaquer defeat Dominik Mysterio & Liv Morgan by disqualification. A hell of a thing helped by a molten hot crowd. We’re continuing to set the table for the eventual Dom/Rey match as well. Great stuff.

Joe Tessitore and Corey Graves greet us from ringside as do Jerry Soto and Marcelo Rodriguez before we look at The Vision’s actions last week against Oba Femi.

You can vote for one of eight superstars to be featured on one of the covers of WWE 2K27 if you’re part of Club WWE. Joke is on you though because somehow they’ll have six of them on the same cover.

Penta warms up backstage and is met by Dragon Lee. Both men could leave with gold tonight.

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Je’Von Evans vs WWE World Tag Team Champion Austin Theory (with Maxxine Dupri) vs Big Cass

Je’Von seems like the pick because of course he should be flying around a ladder match, but never discount WWE’s desire to have Theory or Cass be the least interesting person in the match. Theory won the 2022 MITB match while Evans and Cass are trying to qualify for their first time. Evans is also very popular with this crowd as he dives onto Cass into the announce desk and dodges a charging Theory who falls into the timekeeper’s area. Je’Von starts the run around the ring but is caught by Cass who chokeslams him over the barricade and into Theory to send us to a break to learn about a Wonka Golden Ticket reality show that is apparently a thing happening in 2026.

We come back to Theory grabbing Cass off the top rope onto his shoulders, spinning him to the mat before Je’Von drog splashes Theory. Very impressive for Theory, I’ll admit. The fans chant that “this is wrestling” in Spanish as Je’Von dives outside onto Theory. He tosses Theory back in and runs right into a sidewalk slam by Cass. Dupri pulls Theory to the outside to save him from a boot. Evans springs for the OG Cutter onto Cass who catches him, Evans rolls him into a two. Evans tries again and Cass slaps him down, booting him before Theory rolls Cass outside. Theory covers and Cass pulls him outside, Dupri getting into the face of Cass. Evans leaps into the general area of Cass on the outside. Cass chokeslams Evans onto the apron (the hardest part of the ring!) and sets up the big boot again, Theory running in with a punch to Cass. Evans springs into the picture to cutter Theory on top of Cass. Evans nails the OG Cutter from the top and covers, getting the count and moving on to Money in the Bank.

Je’Von Evans pins Big Cass to advance to Money in the Bank. A few spotty dives aside, these three worked very well together. I’m afraid that, against my usual ways, I’m giving Theory a lot of credit as he was great here. Don’t worry, I’ll return to my role as Chief Theory Hater next week. A very good match. Evans joins Bron Breakker and four to be named in MITB.

Joe and Corey send us to a look at last week’s chapter of the Bloodline story featuring a car being set on fire. Adam Pearce has no control of this show.

Main Event Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso are backstage and think tonight’s the chance to get back. Jacob Fatu walks up and questions if setting off revenge against 946 with Roman defending his belt tonight is the right move. Jacob thinks 946 will try to pick them off one-by-one so they have a clear shot at Roman. He thinks they should stick together.

WWE Intercontinental Championship: WWE Intercontinental Champion Chad Gable vs Dragon Lee

The last time Gable wrestled in Mexico, it was in a match of the year contender against El Grande Americano. The fans are happy to see Gable as well as Lee. I don’t like Lee’s odds but you never know. These two have four televised singles matches against each other and are at 2-2, the last time back in 2025 on a little program named WWE Speed where Gable as Americano won the Speed Championship from Lee. Gable would eventually transfer that title to the other Americano who would lose it on NXT.

The men chain wrestle and trade counters before chopping each other in the corner. Lee drops the Wrecking Ball dropkick onto Gable in the corner and a big running dropkick, Gable rolling outside. Lee sees this as a challenge and topes onto Gable on the outside, rolling Gable back in and hitting him with a crossbody. WIth Gable on the announce table, Lee cannonballs through him to send us to a break.

We return to Gable hitting an Angle Slam from the top rope but not being able to turn it into a three as Corey Graves continues losing his voice, something he’s been battling all weekend. The men battle on their knees before rising to their feet, continuing to trade blows and chops. Gable catches Lee with a sitout powerbomb for a very close kickout. Angle heads up for a moonsault and lands on Lee’s feet. Lee smacks Gable with a running elbow but Gable kicks out. Lee tries for Operation Dragon, Gable rolls it into an anklelock before Lee rolls him into the corner. Lee stomps Gable from the ringpost to the floor and lands hard on his ankle as the fans continue to roar. Both men race in at a nine count and Lee superkicks Gable, Gable tossing him across the ring with a belly-to-belly. Gable gets the moonsault this time and again, Lee survives with a kickout. Gable rolls Lee into two German suplexes, Lee lands on his feet for the third and finally lands Operation Dragon but Gable kicks out at 2.9. Lee tries for Styles Clash, Gable rolls into an ankle lock. Lee tries to roll out and Gable hooks it in before Gable rolls through and hits the Styles Clash. Gable AGAIN kicks out right before three. Hell of a deal going on here. Gable grabs the ankle again and this time, Lee can’t escape. Gable embraces Lee on the mat immediately after the classic.

Chad Gable defeats Dragon Lee by submission to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship. A HELL of a match here on its own, but with this particular crowd it quickly becomes one of Raw’s 2026 classics.

Gable helps Lee up after the match and they shake hands, hugging as Gable gives Lee a kiss on his forehead.

Here’s a vignette on Bayley! She promises to stand in Lyra’s way and this will be the last time someone uses her heart against her. “Lyra, I’m going to show you and the rest of the world why Bayley is the standard of women’s wrestling.”

Celebrities! They love Raw! Oscar Maydon (Mexican singer-songwriter) and Inaki Godoy (One Piece) are here. Celebrities love WWE! We celebrate a three-day attendance total of 49,017 for the Mexico City events.

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Raquel Rodriguez vs Lola Vice vs NXT Women’s Champion Kelani Jordan

This is the much hyped Raw debut for Vice but also Jordan’s Raw debut. Raquel was in the 2022 MITB match, a match lost to her Judgment Day sister Liv Morgan. Lola gets a pretty good reaction. Kelani ducks out and lets Raquel and Lola start it off, Raw yelling “welcome to Raw, chickita” as she armbars Lola. Lola starts hitting Raquel with the MMA strikes and hooks her into an armbar, Raquel powering her up before Kelani strikes. Kelani springs into Raquel’s arms and Raquel tries for a chokeslam, Kelani flipping out. The recent NXT girlies team up to clothesline Raquel to the outside before Kelani slams Lola by her hair to the mat. Raquel pulls both women outside and Kelani springboard moonsaults onto her before Lola dives onto her and we hit a commercial break.

We return to Lola dodging a running Raquel who crashes to the floor. Kelani runs Rodriguez into the steel steps and leaps into the ring to battle for a minute. Lola gets Kelani and Raquel down in the corners and nails them with what Joe Tessitore calls “booty bumps,” shocking Graves. Lola runs into a right and Jordan leaps from the top for a rana onto Raquel, Raquel catching her. Kelani leaps onto Lola with a 450 but Lola catches it and turns it into a triangle choke which is impressive. Raquel leaps off the top to break the hold. The Intercontinental Champ scoops Lola up for a Tejana Bomb but Lola hooks on a choke. Raquel tosses her off and kicks Kelani, Lola rolling Raquel up and getting the win.

Lola Vice pins Raquel Rodriguez to advance to Money in the Bank. A pretty good one here too and I’m proud of them for not leaning into the “triple threat means no DQ” rule tonight. Lola looked good her and Kelani appearing with her gave her a familiar opponent to look good against.

946 cut a Shield-style video camera promo and Royce lights his lighter again. “Good luck, Roman.”

Penta struts backstage. Next, his big shot.

Fatal Influence are at Netflix House Dallas and sharing WWE burgers.

Next week, Raw is in San Antonio. We’ll have more qualifying matches though we don’t tell who might be in them.

Joe Hendry has a new album coming out and here’s a clip of the music video “Give Joe Hendry Every Single Belt (Right Now).”

Stephanie walks backstage and comes across Becky Lynch. Stephanie wonders why Becky doesn’t want to help her now. Becky thinks she’s reached her helping threshold but perhaps Vaquer might want to give her the first shot. “Adios, amiga!”

WWE World Heavyweight Championship: WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns vs Penta

Penta enters wearing a large headdress (if you’ve watched the Penta-Gunther match recently uploaded to WWE Vault, it’ll look familiar). In addition to his mass of pyro, he has a sea of lasers this week. The fans give him the full singalong as well before the OTC’s music hits. Solid boos for the Tribal Chief tonight. This is Roman’s first Raw match since the Netflix debut in January 2025 where he defeated Solo Sikoa in Tribal Combat and only his fifth televised Raw match in the 2020s. You have to go all the way back to August 2019 for a Roman Raw singles match before that. The World Heavyweight Championship itself was last defended in a Raw match back in January when CM Punk defended against AJ Styles. The great Alicia Taylor gives us the championship introductions.

The crowd is very, very solidly behind Penta as the bell rings. Roman is at his best when the fans are against him and he taunts Penta who taunts him right back. Roman shoves Penta down and sticks up the finger of acknowledgement to booing. Penta drops elbows on Roman and headbutts him in the corner as the fans chant “si.” Roman kicks out of the barrage in the corner and runs at Penta who dodges, Roman tumbling out and Penta clotheslining him to the floor. Penta dives onto Roman to send us to another commercial break.

We return to Roman towering over Penta in the ring, whipping him hard into the corner. Roman feeds off of the boos as he whips Penta into the other corner, taunting the crowd who are chanting at him. Penta chops Roman and Roman punches him down, looking disgusted. Roman runs into a boot and Penta dodges him, hitting him with rights before Reigns knocks him away again. Penta kicks the leg and drives Roman face-first to the mat. Penta lands a backstabber in the corner but can barely get a two on it. Penta hits a springboard DDT but can’t quite follow up on it for the pin. He grabs Roman’s arm for the Sacrifice and Roman gives very good facial expressions when he realizes he is caught, especially when Penta snaps the arm. Roman is very good at all of this. Penta tries for a driver, Roman grabs him and slams him but holds his arm as we go split-screen so Dominik Mysterio can order chicken tendies from DoorDash. The men roll outside and Roman hits Penta on the run. Roman hits Penta with a second running dropkick and tosses him back in the ring.

Roman dodges a running Penta and smaches him with a right clothesline before realizing it hurts his arm and switches to left blows. Meanwhile, split screen, a dog takes a dump to advertise dog food. No, for real. Penta knocks Roman outside and tries to leap on him but Roman tosses him to the mat and we return to full-screen action. You may notice that the English announce table was cleared at some point during that ad break. Roman scoops Penta up for a power bomb and delivers right on top of that table. Roman rolls Penta back in and tries for the Superman Punch, but Penta grabs him for a Penta Driver and a very near fall. Can Penta do this? Penta lines up the Destroyer but runs into a Superman Punch, able to kick out at 2.5. The men reset to their corners as Roman shakes his head. Roman calls for the spear and Penta leaps over him, nailing a Mexican Destroyer. Roman runs back with a spear and Penta kicks out at 2.9.

A great camera shot shows us Roman rising over Penta, shaking his head “no” as he yells “He can’t hang with me.” Roman asks for a mic and the crowd is furious. “Acknowledge me!” He tosses the mic and lines up another spear, Penta kicking him and hitting a springboard destroyer for another very near fall. Graves starts telling us about the doubt kicking in for Penta as men rise to their knees together, butting heads. They trade blows up to their feet, the crowd cheering and jeering depending on who is slugging. Penta kicks at Roman but runs into a big fist. Roman tries for another spear, Penta hits another superkick. Penta hits two more of them and Roman is on the ropes. Penta leaps into a super punch and Roman lands the spear. Roman retains.

Roman Reigns pins Penta to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Hell of a match. Roman brought his A-game and made Penta look like a bigger star than he already is. Watch this one. Maybe twice. Despite the hints, no signs of the Bloodline or 946 here.

The looks of sad fans flash across the screen as you can feel the air being let out of the arena as Roman raises his finger. Credits roll and we end on Penta saluting the camera and Roman soaking in the boos. “I don’t hear shit now, yeah!”

The Mexico City crowd, as they did all weekend, elevated the show into something special. Every match was good to the point where I’ll recommend watching the entire show. The I-C and World Title matches were both something special and the atmosphere of the opening promos and the mixed tag attached to them was amazing. A fantastic show.