Chad Gable remains WWE Men’s Intercontinental Champion after forcing Rey Fenix to submit in a dramatic title defense on WWE Raw. The champion weathered an increasingly explosive performance from the AAA Cruiserweight Champion, repeatedly cutting off Fenix’s aerial momentum before finally securing the ankle lock for the finish.
The result continues Gable’s run with the Intercontinental Championship, which began when he defeated Fenix’s brother, Penta, at SummerSlam in August. Since winning the title, Gable has successfully turned back challenges from Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee. Fenix represented another major stylistic test, combining speed, precision striking, aerial offense, and the type of late-match urgency that made the closing stretch especially difficult for the champion.
Ultimately, though, Gable’s wrestling foundation and ability to capitalize on a single opening proved decisive. Fenix had Gable in danger after landing several of his biggest attacks, but the challenger could not put the champion away. When Fenix attempted to press forward with another potential match-ending maneuver, Gable found the leg, applied his signature hold, and left Fenix with no route to escape.
Gable Targets the Ankle From the Opening Bell
Gable established his strategy early by shooting for the ankle lock almost immediately. Fenix was alert to the threat, scrambling to the ropes before the hold could become a serious factor. That escape did not discourage Gable, however. It instead made the direction of the match clear: the Intercontinental Champion wanted to ground Fenix, reduce the impact of his aerial game, and create an opportunity to attack the lower body again later in the contest.
For more background on this topic, read Stephanie Vaquer Seen on Crutches After Money in the Bank Ankle Injury.
Fenix’s mobility initially helped him avoid being controlled for long. He was able to create separation and force Gable to react to his pace, but the champion continued looking for ways to interrupt that rhythm. Gable scored a near-fall following a moonsault, showing that he could match aggression with aggression rather than relying exclusively on technical control.
When Fenix began mounting a rally, Gable quickly reversed the challenger’s momentum and once again cinched in the ankle lock. This time, Fenix still managed to escape, keeping his title hopes alive. The repeated applications mattered, though. Even without earning a submission at that point, Gable made the ankle lock a constant concern and forced Fenix to spend energy fighting out of danger.
Rey Fenix Finds Openings for His Signature Offense
After getting free, Fenix tried to build momentum through speed and movement. Gable caught him in a pinning attempt for another two-count, but the challenger soon found a way to swing the action back in his favor. Gable sent Fenix toward the ropes, only for Fenix to rebound with a slingshot heel kick.
The exchange reflected the challenge Fenix presented throughout the bout. He was capable of turning even a defensive moment into an attack, making it difficult for Gable to assume that he had the challenger contained. Yet Gable answered the heel kick sequence by catching Fenix and delivering an Olympic Slam for a near-fall of his own.
The match then spilled outside the ring, where Fenix connected with Adios Amigo from the apron. It was a major strike from the challenger, but Gable was able to regain control by catching Fenix and launching him into the barricade. That response reinforced Gable’s resilience. Fenix could land spectacular offense, but Gable kept finding answers before the challenger could turn those moments into a title-winning sequence.
Back inside the ring, Fenix again caught Gable off guard, this time using a rolling cutter for another near-fall. The challenger had begun to string together attacks with greater consistency, and Gable’s margin for error was shrinking. Fenix then went to the top rope and connected with a hurricanrana, following it with a moonsault that produced yet another close two-count.
Near-Falls Build Toward a Submission Finish
Fenix continued raising the stakes as the match moved into its final stretch. He hit Adios Amigo for a second time and followed it with a frog splash. The combination appeared to put Gable in serious jeopardy, but the Intercontinental Champion kicked out at two.
That kickout was the pivotal moment in the match. Fenix had landed an array of attacks that would have ended many contests: the rolling cutter, the top-rope hurricanrana, the moonsault, the repeated Adios Amigo offense, and finally the frog splash. But Gable endured each near-fall and maintained enough awareness to prevent Fenix from gaining the final three-count.
With the challenger trying to capitalize on his advantage, Gable found the opening he had been working toward from the beginning. Fenix looked to execute his spinning Musclebuster, but Gable caught him and locked in the ankle lock once again. Unlike the earlier attempts, Fenix could not reach the ropes or create an escape. After the damage and pressure accumulated through the match, Fenix was forced to tap out.
Chad Gable retained the WWE Men’s Intercontinental Championship by submission after trapping Rey Fenix in the ankle lock.
A Significant Defense in Gable’s Championship Run
The victory adds another notable challenger to Gable’s list of successful defenses. His reign began with a win over Penta at SummerSlam, and it has now included victories against Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, and Rey Fenix. Each opponent has brought a distinct threat, but Fenix may have been among the most difficult to contain because of the pace and variety he brought to the ring.
Fenix entered the bout as AAA Cruiserweight Champion, giving the contest added championship stature even though only Gable’s Intercontinental title was at stake. The match also carried obvious personal context due to Gable having won the Intercontinental Championship from Penta, Fenix’s brother, in August. Fenix had an opportunity to succeed where Penta fell short, but Gable denied him as well.
For Gable, the match was a reminder that his title reign is being defined by more than one style of competition. He has faced established WWE veterans, high-flying specialists, and now an internationally accomplished cruiserweight champion. Against Fenix, he did not simply overpower his opponent. He had to survive an onslaught, adapt to quick changes in momentum, and remain committed to a targeted submission strategy.
The ankle lock was the thread connecting the entire match. Fenix escaped it early and battled out of it again later, which made the final application feel earned rather than sudden. Gable repeatedly identified the same vulnerability and kept returning to it until the challenger had no answer remaining.
What the Result Means Going Forward
Gable leaves Raw still holding the WWE Men’s Intercontinental Championship, while Fenix’s effort showed why he remains one of the most dangerous high-flyers in wrestling. He came within seconds of a title change on multiple occasions and forced Gable to withstand some of the hardest-hitting offense of the champion’s reign.
However, close calls do not change the official result. Gable’s hand was raised after Fenix tapped, and the Intercontinental Championship remains around the waist of the wrestler who captured it at SummerSlam. With defenses over Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, and now Rey Fenix behind him, Gable has continued to add credibility to a reign built on relentless technical wrestling, toughness under pressure, and the ever-present threat of the ankle lock.
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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.