Why a Former Intercontinental Champion Should Win the 2026 Men’s Money in the Bank Match
The main event of the September 21st episode of Monday Night Raw was a Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifier Match between Solo Sikoa, Dragon Lee, and ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio. However, before the match began, Sikoa was attacked and kidnapped by Royce Keys, Bronco Nima, and Lucien Price, also known as 946. Mysterio and Lee headed to the ring, and it looked like this qualifier was just going to be a one-on-one match until Raw general manager Adam Pearce announced the match would have a third competitor, who turned out to be former Intercontinental Champion Pénta. After Pénta kicked out of a 619 and a Frog Splash by Mysterio, the former AAA Mega Champion became furious, ripping off the top turnbuckle pad; that’s when the ‘Cero Miedo’ drove Mysterio face-first into the exposed steel and performed a Springboard Mexican Destroyer to get the win and qualify for the 2026 Men’s Money in the Bank Match.
During the September 14th episode of Raw in Mexico City, Pénta arguably had the biggest match of his career as he faced Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship. Although he fell short, ‘Cero Miedo’ has solidified himself as a main event star. When he debuted in WWE back in January 2025, the former Intercontinental Champion was already well received, yet his popularity and admiration from the WWE Universe have grown tremendously. Back on March 2nd of this year, Pénta defeated Mysterio for the Intercontinental Championship and had an amazing run as champion, defending it against some of the best the Raw brand has to offer. ‘Cero Miedo’ would lose the title to Chad Gable at SummerSlam. Since losing the championship, Pénta’s momentum hasn’t died down at all; if anything, it has grown. He became the top contender for the World Heavyweight Championship and faced his brother Rey Fénix in the finals of the top contender tournament. Facing Reigns was not only the biggest night of Pénta’s life, but it elevated him to a new level within WWE’s championship scene.
Now is the perfect opportunity to put the Money in the Bank briefcase on Pénta. Whether it’s Reigns or LA Knight who walks out of Money in the Bank as Champion, having ‘Cero Miedo’ as a threat to either of their reigns as champion would certainly set some paranoia within the World Heavyweight Champion. Knight is looking to win his first World Championship, and if he cashed in on during the Money in the Bank premium live event or after the fact, it will spoil all the hard work ‘The Megastar’ has been building toward. While for ‘The OTC’, he already knows firsthand how much of a threat Pénta could be. With 946 looking to take down The Bloodline, ‘Cero Miedo’ could cash in his briefcase during an all-out war between the two groups.
The rest of the 2026 Men’s Money in the Bank superstars may be the future of the WWE: Bron Breakker, Je’Von Evans, and Trick Williams. However, Pénta has become a massive attraction due to his entrance, never backing down from a fight, putting on amazing matches, and giving promos that make you want to see more. Someone like Breakker should be a favorite to win; Williams should be a favorite to win as well, yet ‘Cero Miedo’ should be mentioned in that conversation. The former Intercontinental Champion holding the briefcase will only help him grow as a major player within the WWE Universe moving forward beyond 2026.
