WWE Raw results, grades (Sept. 14): Roman Reigns retains over Penta in Mexico City thriller

"WWE Raw" was in Mexico City at Arena CDMX on this Monday, Sept. 14, following AAA TripleMania weekend. After hyping up Roman Reigns' first match on "WWE Raw" since the company moved to Netflix in January 2025, the reigning World Heavyweight Champion and Penta went all out in front of the Mexican crowd.Barn = BurnedIt was never going to happen, but the whole country of Mexico may have erupted had Penta dethroned Reigns for the world title in the main event tonight.This was about as perfect of a main event as you could’ve asked for to close out TKO’s Latin-themed weekend of combat sports. Ever so rarely do we see Reigns compete these days, not only on TV, but in general. And for a match where he was the uber heel against the hometown warrior, this gave off a Hulk Hogan vs. Rock-like vibe.LISTEN TO THIS PLACE 🤯@PENTAELZEROM pic.twitter.com/WmDQCqpevM— WWE (@WWE) September 15, 2026 Roman is in enemy territory tonight! 👀@PENTAELZEROM pic.twitter.com/MqMi17tfg8— WWE (@WWE) September 15, 2026 As amazing as it all was and as much as it delivered, I'll acknowledge right away that it didn't earn a perfect five on the crown scale. That's mostly because of the slow pace the match carried in its start — accompanied by such a deflating ending.Again, Reigns was never going to lose. But his win completely silenced the white-hot Mexico City crowd, as if it transported the entire audience to a random show in Birmingham, Alabama. (Wait, that was last week, wasn't it?)But why couldn't Reigns have lost? The man is truly bulletproof at this stage of his career, and this was one of those times when WWE could easily justify interference, since Reigns is currently tied up in ongoing issues with LA Knight, Solo Sikoa and the 946. Nonetheless, Penta's Springboard Destroyer, in particular, was a real ticket-seller. If there was ever a moment to choose out of the match as the No. 1 highlight, it was that.Reigns taking the Penta Driver also looked pretty incredible.THIS MATCH 🤯@PENTAELZEROM | @WWERomanReigns pic.twitter.com/ckxvolaiDz— WWE (@WWE) September 15, 2026 HOW did @WWERomanReigns kick out of THAT!!! 😲 pic.twitter.com/AqKlydmHIW— WWE (@WWE) September 15, 2026 A SHOW-STOPPING MATCH!!! 🔥@WWERomanReigns defeats Penta and retains the World Heavyweight Title! pic.twitter.com/AFQcVTuInq— WWE (@WWE) September 15, 2026 Moving forward, the door feels like it’s been left open for a revisit to this matchup, purely out of interest in seeing Penta win as an underdog. But those story beats I just mentioned are ever-present, leaving Reigns surely set to collide with either Knight or Sikoa next — either at, or as a result of, Money In the Bank. After "Raw" went off the air, WWE indeed hinted that it’s saving that special moment for one Mr. Knight. (One can hope.)After his successful title defense against @PENTAELZEROM, @WWERomanReigns gets DROPPED by @RealLAKnight 😮🫨😮🫨 #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/4mes2kvHBN— WWE (@WWE) September 15, 2026 Speaking of Money In the Bank…QualifiedWe saw more seeds planted for the Money In the Bank ladder matches tonight. Je'Von Evans defeated Big Cass and Austin Theory to qualify, while Lola Vice made good on her main roster debut, pinning Raquel Rodriguez in their match with NXT's Keilani Jordan.Both winners were decent surprises, especially with Rodriguez holding the Intercontinental title. Vice entering the Money In the Bank match signals an immediate push for her, win or lose. The ongoing Judgment Day saga, with its breakup forever being teased, can always use big stipulation matches like Money in the Bank, so Rodriguez's inclusion seemed pretty likely, but I'll gladly take the freshest option imaginable.LOLA VICE QUALIFIES 👊Next Stop: Money in the Bank 💰 pic.twitter.com/oIqc0TqGX1— WWE (@WWE) September 15, 2026 Somehow, Theory was the only member of The Vision on tonight's "Raw," and maybe even more surprisingly, he didn't eat the pin.That honor went to Big Cass via an OG Cutter. I don't necessarily love the big man taking an L of any kind this soon into his return. It makes him instantly look like the weakest big man on the roster. His inclusion in a multi-man ladder match would have been fun, too, but obviously, WWE will probably force Evans into a ladder match any chance it gets.Honestly, I can't complain too much about that either. The match was very good.THE YOUNG OG ➡️ Money in the Bank 😤@WWEJeVonEvans pic.twitter.com/kjeqGrwvZn— WWE (@WWE) September 15, 2026 👑 Uncrowned Gem of the Night 👑Well, this one went without saying. But Chad Gable vs. Dragon Lee kicked all of the behinds imaginable.This truly is the year of Gable, and WWE is letting him show that with the string of matches he's had since his "Mask vs. Mask" match with El Grande Americano. While he might not be the Wrestler of the Year, he's undeniably a contender in the conversation alongside the Will Ospreays, Kenny Omegas and MJFs of the world.You can't forget Lee either though, as the luchador has excelled in essentially every notable big-name match he's been put in. He just never wins them, which is a shame.In the end, this was phenomenal work from both men that requires your attention.A STELLAR MATCH 🤩 pic.twitter.com/XCeV3wuGKN— WWE (@WWE) September 15, 2026 KEEP ON RUNNING 💨Chad Gable RETAINS the Intercontinental Title!! pic.twitter.com/1KzoR1Gxh6— WWE (@WWE) September 15, 2026 🔥 HOT START"Raw" started perfectly with Rey Mysterio taking to the ring before Adam Pearce magically appeared next to him. Like, seriously. Go back and watch while paying attention to when Pearce appears, and you'll be convinced he pulled off a magic trick.The duo awaited the arrival of Stephanie Vaquer for a mini-celebration of her Women's World title win in her home of Chile at a recent WWE live event. This was all a setup to draw out Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio — the latter of whom received such nuclear heat that he could barely contain his composure. It was an incredible scene that only got better when Mysterio challenged Vaquer and his father to a mixed-tag match on the spot. However, Papa Mysterio couldn't compete after the attack he suffered on Friday — so out came the new AAA Mega Champion, the ultra-over El Grande Americano.The ENTIRE Women's World Title match between Stephanie Vaquer and Liv Morgan in Chile is available now ONLY on Club WWE! 🔥Sign up here: pic.twitter.com/MRlETCHhcX— WWE (@WWE) September 15, 2026 What a REACTION for the NEW Women's World Champion! 👏@Steph_Vaquer pic.twitter.com/KJ5zDJ7X3T— WWE (@WWE) September 15, 2026 Liv Morgan is NOT HAPPY after she lost the Women's World Title in Chile! 👀@YaOnlyLivvOnce pic.twitter.com/aWOzvt3OU3— WWE (@WWE) September 15, 2026 OLE 🤌What an OVATION for the NEW AAA Mega Champion El Grande Americano! pic.twitter.com/iyCxm8CUhr— WWE (@WWE) September 15, 2026 This match was awesome, and really makes you wish we got more mixed-tag matches. Unfortunately, it was also completely ruined by the typical, nonsensical Judgment Day interference for a DQ finish, which left the stable standing tall for no other reason than presumably continuing each of the feuds involved. That felt like a miss for someone like Americano, who is also in that Wrestler of the Year conversation.The Judgment Day RUIN this moment for El Grande Americano and Stephanie Vaquer 😡 pic.twitter.com/jEhKKwHsah— WWE (@WWE) September 15, 2026 To flat-out say it, that finish was the only thing that prevented this from being a perfect "Raw."This was a rare wrestling-heavy weekly WWE show. And it was in the best venue for it. I give this "Raw" a crown score of: 9.5/10 👑WWE Raw full card results and match grades:World Heavyweight Championship: Roman Reigns (c.) def. Penta — 👑 4.75/5 👑Women's Money in the Bank qualifying match: Lola Vice def. Raquel Rodriguez, Keilani Jordan 👑 3.5/5 👑Intercontinental Championship: Chad Gable (c.) def. Dragon Lee — 👑 5/5 👑Men's Money in the Bank qualifying match: Je'Von Evans def. Big Cass, Austin Theory — 👑 3.75/5 👑El Grande Americano and Stephanie Vaquer def. The Judgment Day (Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan) — 👑 3.5/5 👑Recap "WWE Raw" with Uncrowned's live blog: