In what Michael Cole called “the worst kept secret in the business” during his debut match,Pentais officially in theWWE. As of thelatest episode of Monday Night Raw, the WWE unveiledtheir new star luchadorby having him defeat Chad Gable. After one match and one promo, Penta received a raucous ovation. Needless to say, a star was born.
Needless to say, 2025 is expected to be a breakout year for Penta under the WWE banner. Everyone expects big things for the former AEW champion, but everyone is curious as to who he could be feuding with and having matches against this year. Looking at the Raw roster alone, the possibilities are endless. As the new year rings in, now seems like the perfect time to speculate as to who Mr. Cero Miedo will show zero fear against in 2025.
10Penta vs. Rey Mysterio
The History Is There
During Raw’s episode, backstage interviewer Jackie Redmond spoke to Rey Mysterio in front of the live crowd. The Master of the 619 congratulated Penta and expressed that in all the time they’d known each other, he’s believed WWE should’ve always been Penta’s true home. For those unaware, Mysterio and Penta have wrestled each other numerous times outside of WWE, most notably in Season 3’s “Wheel of Misfortune” episode ofLucha Underground.
One throwaway line was enough to canonize the relationship between Penta and the former WWE Champion.WWE can capitalize on that history either by using that bond as the basis for a team, or to springboard a feud. Any fans curious to see what their chemistry looks like under WWE quarters convinced their history is ripe for a storyline, is likely rooting for the latter.
9Penta and Rey Mysterio vs. New Day
Rey Mysterio’s Backup Could Be Penta
If WWE opted to go with pairing Mysterio and Penta up as a team, thenPenta could easily serve as backup for the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion against the New Day. Still riding high and reviled following their heel turn duringtheir 10th-anniversary segment, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods have been seen feeling the brunt of the consequences from Rey Mysterio. As locker room leader, he’s forced the former Tag Team Champions to chang in hallways and boiler rooms.
In each episode sincebetraying their former teammate Big E, New Day has continued to target Mysterio in their promos, which will likely lead to a physical confrontation. Somebody has to join Mysterio’s side to even the odds, and now that their history has been established, it’s easy to see Penta filling that role to give his friend a helping hand.
8Penta and Rey Mysterio vs. American Made (Creed Brothers)
Building Off of Penta’s Debut
If WWE were to pair Rey Mysterio with Penta, the no-brainer feud and match would be against New Day, but that’s assuming that there isn’t any unfinished business between Penta and Chad Gable. If Gable takes issue with Penta, then he’s not likely to return alone. Two of WWE’s most recent call-ups are former NXT Tag Team Champions Brutus and Julius, the Creed Brothers.
Upon turning heel, Chad Gable would discard Otis, Akira Tozawa, and Maxxine of Alpha Academy in favor of birthing a stable of stronger, younger, faster athletes in the Creeds and Ivy Nile. Ifthe luchador-hating Gableunleashes his young and hungry underlings onto the luchador as payback, then Penta will be the one in need of help this time, leaving Mysterio to come to his aid.
7Penta vs. Seth Rollins
Time for Seth to Play His Part
Seth Rollins recently expressed in an interview that he feels more like a role player who sets others on the path to top, being under the impression thatWWE never gave him the ballto be the top guy. Instead, it’s always been his role to help propel a different, bigger star to that next level, like he did with Cody Rhodes in their trilogy of matches. That may be demoralizing from a worker’s perspective, but assuming that this isn’t going to change any time soon for Rollins, then one may expect him to play that role for WWE’s newest star in the making, Penta.
On the plus side, regardless of Rollins' feelings or role, a lot of fans will agree that Penta vs. Seth Rollins, on paper, sounds like a Match of the Year candidate in the making. Penta will surely bring a different style to WWE rings, and Seth may be forced to pull out old tricks from his bag to keep up.
6Penta vs. Gunther
Could Penta Shoot for a World Title?
If Penta maintains the crowd response and reaction that he garnered in his debut, then he’ll be an established main-eventer in no time. He has the star presence and the popularity to justify such a mega-push. All that is missing isa shot at winning gold around his waist. The former TNA World Champion could seek another World Title on the Road to WrestleMania, this time aiming at the one belonging to Gunther.
Gunther doesn’t have a clear trajectory of challengers right now. He’s been on a redemption tour of sorts, redeeming losses and questionable victories from his past from the likes of Sami Zayn and Damian Priest. That arc seems to have ended, and most critics expect Gunther to retain against Jey Uso at Saturday Night’s Main Event. That certainly leaves his schedule open for Penta.Pushing Penta into the title pictureso quickly is bound to gain some fan intrigue from those wondering if WWE would pull the trigger this fast.
A Celebrity Marquee Attraction
The Netflix Kickoff Show teased that Logan Paul could challenge for Gunther’s World Heavyweight Championship sooner rather than later, though the reception to that idea has not been received well, judging by social media reactions. If WWE wanted to pivot from that idea, few would complain about Paul vs. Penta. Paul always makes for a fun, punchable villain, and everyone has loved watching Penta play the vicious babyface capable of tearing him apart.
Alternatively, though, there have been rumors suggesting that WWE could return to Puerto Rico for its next Backlash event, andBad Bunny has been openly campaigning to return to the ringfor the first time since WWE was in Puerto Rico for 2023’s Backlash. There, the global sensation stole the show in his San Juan Street Fight with Damian Priest. Penta obviously became a superstar in Mexico first, so the latin American crowd is bound to go nuts for this matchup.
4Penta vs. Bron Breakker
Penta’s First Taste of Gold Could Come at the Expense of the Current IC Champion
Bron Breakker is primed to be WWE’s next big thing. Breakker’s Intercontinental Championship run has been well-received and fans love him. He’s bound for the main event picture any day now and, even better, he seems ready for the challenge. However,someone will need to fill the IC Champion’s shoeswhen the title is off his hands. What better man than WWE’s hottest new thing?
If a World Title is too soon for Penta’s future, thenthe IC Title is perfect for him. It’s traditionally known as the workhorse title, given specifically to Superstars either to test the waters for a main event push, or simply give it to the Superstars who can wrestle an entertaining match with anyone. Penta’s work around the world has shown he can do great things in the ring with anyone, and this would certainly get him ready to achieve that main event ascension that he’s eventually destined for. All he has to do is defeat Raw’s War Dog.
3Penta vs. Jacob Fatu
Another Dream Match for the Samoan Werewolf
Jacob Fatu is the only SmackDown Superstar on this list, so given the brand split, the road to this match might be longer than Penta’s other options. However, that doesn’t mean that fans wouldn’t be clamoring for this any less than other potential matches. History has shown that the WWE Universe will eat up anything that Jacob Fatu does in the ring, and are excited at the prospect of watching him wrestle just about anyone.
Unexpected staredowns with the likes of Roman Reigns and Bron Breakker have opened fans' eyes to dream matches that they never knew they wanted until the option was presented to them.One brief eye-to-eye encounter could produce the same effect for Jacob Fatu and Penta. Knowing how the Royal Rumble works, that encounter could happen as soon as next month.
2Penta vs. CM Punk
An AEW Rematch
Besides Rey Mysterio, CM Punk would be one of the few wrestlers on the Raw roster to have previously wrestled Penta outside WWE. The match between them happened on the June 15, 2025, episode ofDynamite, back when both men wrestled for All Elite Wrestling. Some fans would assume that a rematch would just be a retread of what came before it, but AEW and WWE produce their shows so differently thatPunk vs. Penta II could be completely different from its predecessor.
AEW offers a more fast-paced wrestling style for their product, while the camera production itself is vastly different, with notably distinct usage of lighting and camera cuts on both sides. WWE has an opportunity to produce a whole new atmosphere, production, and style between two veterans if they decide to step between the ropes together again.
1Penta vs. John Cena
One Shot and One Shot Only
The John Cena Retirement Touris officially underway. His character’s mission statement has made it clear he wants to win one last World Championship before riding off into the sunset, but readers can also expect him to face old foes one last time and have one more opportunity for first-time match-ups. It doesn’t necessarily need to have the stakes of a major feud or storyline, but something as simple as a TV filler match would suffice as it would give fans one simple thing:one last chance at Penta vs. John Cena.
In his nearly 25-year career, John Cena never faced someone like Penta and, after 2025, he never will again. It’s actually now or never forWWEto make this happen, so if Cena wants to give fans one last dream match, this may be the one to prioritize.
WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is a global entertainment company primarily known for professional wrestling. Founded in 1953, it produces live events, television programs, and streaming content. Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, WWE operates multiple brands, including Raw, SmackDown, and NXT.
