WWE Raw’s return to Mexico City created a major showcase for some of the company’s Mexican talent, and the performances of Penta and Dragon Lee drew praise from familiar names outside WWE as soon as the broadcast concluded.
AEW’s Andrade and Rush, both of whom have deep roots in Mexican lucha libre, took to social media following Raw to offer congratulations to Penta and Dragon Lee. The messages came after a night in which neither WWE star captured a championship, but both were placed in prominent matches and pushed their opponents in front of a Mexican audience.
Raw was held in Mexico City for the first time in 15 years. On the card, Dragon Lee challenged Chad Gable for the Intercontinental Championship, while Penta stepped into the main-event title picture against Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship. Gable and Reigns retained, but the two challengers still left a clear impression through performances that stood among the most discussed matches from the show.
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Andrade’s post was brief but emphatic, tagging Penta and adding a fist emoji: “@PENTAELZEROM 👊🏼”
For more background on this topic, read AJ Lee Explains Why She Initially Turned Down a WWE Return.
Rush expanded that sentiment to recognize both men, writing: “Congratulations brother @dragonlee95. Congratulations @PENTAELZEROM 👏🏼👏🏼long live Mexico 🇲🇽 👊🏿”
A Mexico City Spotlight for WWE’s Luchadores
The reaction from Andrade and Rush reflected more than simple praise for two strong matches. Penta and Dragon Lee were featured in championship situations on a Raw episode taking place in Mexico City, a setting that naturally put additional focus on the importance of Mexican representation and lucha libre’s place on an international wrestling stage.
For Dragon Lee, the Intercontinental Championship bout continued a pursuit that has defined much of his year. He has repeatedly targeted the title, only to remain without championship gold so far. His challenge to Gable in Mexico City was another opportunity to break through, but Gable successfully turned back the challenger.
Lee has also maintained a connection to the Mexican wrestling scene through several appearances in AAA. Those appearances, combined with his continued efforts to become Intercontinental Champion in WWE, have kept him active around the title conversation even without a belt around his waist. The Mexico City crowd gave that chase an especially fitting stage, though the outcome left Lee still looking for the moment that finally changes his fortunes.
Penta’s situation carried a different kind of significance. Rather than working in the Intercontinental title scene, he challenged Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship. The match placed Penta opposite one of WWE’s biggest stars and put him in a central position on an episode with substantial importance to the local audience.
Reigns emerged as champion, but Penta’s performance ensured that his night was not defined only by the loss. His ability to compete in the World Heavyweight Championship picture raises a key question for Raw moving forward: whether this match represents the start of an extended main-event push or a standout title challenge before he returns to the mid-card division.
Questions Remain for Penta and Dragon Lee
Penta’s next direction is particularly notable because of his recent history with the Intercontinental Championship. He lost that title to Chad Gable at SummerSlam, and Gable remains the champion after defeating Dragon Lee in Mexico City. That creates an obvious path back toward the title Penta previously held, especially if his pursuit of Roman Reigns and the World Heavyweight Championship does not continue immediately.
At the same time, being positioned against Reigns gives Penta a level of momentum that could support further involvement near the top of Raw. WWE has not established whether he will stay in that main-event orbit, and his eventual destination may determine whether the Mexico City match becomes a launching point or a singular major opportunity.
Dragon Lee’s outlook is also tied closely to Gable’s Intercontinental Championship reign. Lee’s continued focus on the title makes him one of the most natural names to remain in contention, but the Mexico City defeat means he will need to rebuild toward another opportunity. His performances and ongoing connection to Mexican wrestling could keep him visible, yet he has not yet found the win that translates that visibility into a championship.
Neither competitor left Mexico City with gold, but both received valuable spotlight time on a Raw episode that was built around WWE’s return to the country. Andrade and Rush’s messages underlined the fact that their efforts were noticed by peers who understand the significance of succeeding on a major stage while representing Mexico.
Andrade and Rush Maintain Strong Mexican Wrestling Ties
Andrade and Rush are both active AEW wrestlers, but their public recognition of Penta and Dragon Lee also speaks to the long-standing connections that run across the Mexican wrestling community. The careers of all four men have been shaped by lucha libre, even as they have competed for different major promotions and in different countries.
Andrade has continued to return to Mexico at various points in his career. During both his first and second runs with AEW, he has wrestled for CMLL and AAA. Those appearances have allowed him to remain connected with the environment that helped establish his reputation, even while his primary work has taken place elsewhere.
Rush has largely concentrated on his AEW and ROH responsibilities, but he too has competed for independent companies in Mexico over the years. His congratulatory message to both Dragon Lee and Penta came from someone with extensive experience in the country’s wrestling landscape and a clear appreciation for the importance of the Mexico City setting.
AEW itself has also maintained a recent presence in Mexico through its relationship with CMLL. The most recent Mexican event involving the Jacksonville-based promotion was Semana Internacional CMLL vs. AEW, a three-show series in which the second and third nights took place this past August. That event illustrated the continuing crossover between Mexican wrestling and prominent United States-based companies, even as WWE’s Raw presented a separate high-profile platform for Penta and Dragon Lee.
A Night Bigger Than the Results
Championship results ultimately went against both Mexican challengers on Raw. Gable retained the Intercontinental Championship over Dragon Lee, and Reigns retained the World Heavyweight Championship against Penta. In a results-driven business, losses in title bouts can shape a performer’s immediate direction, particularly when WWE decides who will receive the next opportunity.
Still, the response to the two matches makes clear that the evening carried weight beyond the final decisions. WWE brought Raw to Mexico City for the first time in 15 years and entrusted Penta and Dragon Lee with marquee title situations. They did not win, but they represented Mexico in major matches on a night when the city was again at the center of WWE programming.
Andrade and Rush’s reactions were concise, but their support was unmistakable. Both AEW stars chose to spotlight the efforts of Penta and Dragon Lee rather than their defeats, celebrating their countrymen after a Raw that gave Mexican lucha libre performers a prominent place in front of a Mexico City crowd.
The next developments will determine how lasting that spotlight becomes. Penta could remain a factor around the World Heavyweight Championship or return to a chase for the Intercontinental title he lost to Gable at SummerSlam. Dragon Lee could continue pressing for the same championship after falling short in Mexico City. Whatever comes next, their Raw performances earned recognition from two fellow Mexican stars whose own careers have remained closely tied to the country’s wrestling tradition.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.