Next WWE Intercontinental Champion After Penta

Published: 51 minutes ago by SP3 | Last Updated: 51 minutes ago by SP3

Born in Harlem, New York and now living in the Bronx, Sid Pullar III aka SP3 is a lifelong wrestling fan who has been covering the industry for over nine years as a podcaster and writer. His passion for the industry has been documented with over 3,000 videos on YouTube and 8,000 written pieces across multiple outlets, such as WrestleTalk, Sports Illustrated and more.
@TruHeelSP3

Back in March, Penta defeated Dominik Mysterio to win his first WWE Intercontinental Championship.

Since that win, Penta has been on a roll, establishing himself as a fighting champion by recording a number of successful title defenses.

With the memorable reign he’s building, there is a lot of interest regarding who will eventually dethrone Penta for the IC Title.

Here are eight potential next WWE Intercontinental Champions after Penta.

8. Ethan Page

Since getting called up to the WWE main roster, Ethan Page has cemented himself as a threat to championship gold on Monday Night Raw.

On the May 23 edition of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, Penta defeated Page to retain the Intercontinental Championship.

This failure to win the gold hasn’t stopped “All Ego” from being in constant pursuit of the IC Title.

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Page eventually claiming the Intercontinental Championship will help in his quest to solidify the title’s place as a pinnacle of excellence in WWE.

7. Rusev

Speaking of Ethan Page, “All Ego” has formed a temporary alliance with Rusev in their chase of the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

In recent months, Rusev has made it clear that he wants to get his hands on the IC Title.

Despite coming up short in a non-title match against Penta, this has not stopped “The Bulgarian Brute” from throwing his name in the hat for a shot at the gold.

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Rusev using his power, force and intensity to finally win the IC Title would be fitting and feel like a culmination of his return to WWE in 2025.

6. Dragon Lee

On the March 16 episode of WWE Raw, Penta defeated Dragon Lee to retain the Intercontinental Championship.

This bout proved to be a breakout performance for both men, showing why lucha libre deserved the spotlight on Monday nights.

Since then, Lee has found himself in the mix for the IC Title,

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including his strong showing in the multi-man ladder match at WWE WrestleMania 42.

Lee finally winning his first singles title on the WWE main roster could come as a result of him being able to beat Penta in their next one-on-one meeting.

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5. Rey Mysterio

On the June 8 episode of Monday Night Raw, Penta defeated Rey Mysterio to retain the Intercontinental Championship.

This was a match that meant a lot to both men and was built up as a dream match that delivered big time in front of a red hot Paris, France crowd.

While this could have been the final shot at gold for the 51-year old WWE Hall of Famer, it feels like Mysterio earned himself another opportunity with his impressive performance here.

Mysterio getting another title shot could see him turn back the clock and capture the IC Title for a third time.

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4. Dominik Mysterio

Penta’s Intercontinental Title reign all started with his win over Dominik Mysterio on the March 9 edition of Monday Night Raw.

Penta and Dominik have clashed on several occasions over the past year with Mysterio holding several victories over the current champion.

Despite coming up short in their subsequent rematch for the IC Title on the March 23 WWE Raw, it feels like this rivalry is not over quite yet.

“Dirty Dom” getting another title shot could see him claim the Intercontinental Championship for a third time and bring it back to The Judgment Day.

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3. Jacob Fatu

At WWE Clash In Italy 2026, Roman Reigns defeated Jacob Fatu in a Tribal Combat to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.

Due to this win, Fatu was forced to acknowledge Reigns as his “Tribal Chief” and join forces with The Bloodline.

Now with “The OTC” in firm control, Reigns could put Fatu’s focus on bringing gold to their family.

“The Samoan Werewolf” challenging Penta for the WWE Intercontinental Championship would prove to be a highly competitive battle that could see Fatu bring the strap to The Bloodline.

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2. Je’Von Evans

On the May 25 episode of Monday Night Raw, Penta defeated Je’Von Evans to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

“The Young OG” proved to be a tough test for Penta in this defense and took him to the limit despite coming up short.

After a post match disagreement, Evans apologized to Penta, but he let the champion know that he still was coming after his title.

Evans eventually challenging again could see the 22 year old finally win the big one and claim the IC Title from Penta in what will be a turning point for his career.

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1. Chad Gable

Following his loss to El Grande Americano in the Mask vs. Mask Match at AAA Noche de Los Grandes, fans have seen an all-new version of Chad Gable.

Trying to redeem himself after months of making light of the lucha libre culture, Gable has been making amends with the luchadors he disrespected.

The former Olympian even went as far as to make the save for both Penta and Rey Mysterio from a post match attack from Ethan Page and Rusev on the June 8 episode of WWE Raw.

This could all culminate with Gable challenging Penta and eventually beating him for the Intercontinental Championship in what will be the first singles title win of his career down the line.

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