Rusev Addresses WWE Raw Match Against Intercontinental Champion Penta, ‘I’m Fighting For The Thing That Matters The Most To Me & That Is The Intercontinental Title’

Published: 2 hours ago by Liam | Last Updated: 2 hours ago by Liam

Liam has been reporting & analyzing wrestling news for over eight years, and is currently the Managing Editor at WrestleTalk.com. Immersed in wrestling for 18 years, he has over 11,000 published articles in addition to leading and overseeing WrestleTalk.com's coverage.

Rusev Addresses WWE Raw Match Against Intercontinental Champion Penta, ‘I’m Fighting For The Thing That Matters The Most To Me & That Is The Intercontinental Title’

Rusev has commented ahead of his match against WWE Intercontinental Champion Penta on the April 27 edition of Raw.

Raw General Manager Adam Pearce confirmed the Rusev vs Penta match for a card that also features Seth Rollins opening the show, Bayley & Lyra Valkyris vs Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez, a Joe Hendry concert, and World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns responding to Jacob Fatu calling him out for a match at WWE Backlash.

It wasn’t stated whether the Penta vs Rusev match will be for Penta’s title.

In a new video on social media responding to the announcement, Rusev said:

“It’s a happy day at the Rusev household. Just got the word that tomorrow night, Monday Night Raw, Penta vs Rusev is happening.

“Finally, finally, finally I’m gonna get my hands one-on-one on Penta. No other five fools trying to jump around from ladders, trying to get between me and my title.

“And I know, I know, I’m not taking Penta lightly. I know about all his fancy tricks, but Rusev is big, Rusev is strong and Rusev is mean, and he’s pissed off.

“I’m not fighting for another house, for another car, I’m fighting for the thing that matters the most to me, and that is the WWE Intercontinental Title, because I want to go home as a champion.

“I want to represent my people, my fans, as a champion. They expect it from me and I am going to deliver it for them. So tomorrow night… Rusev crush.”

If you use this transcription or any portion of it please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

Monday Night Raw Rusev vs Penta live on @netflix @WWE #wweraw pic.twitter.com/Bump3pOwvn

— Rusev (@ToBeMiro) April 26, 2026

The Next Intercontinental Champion

Rusev has been in and around the WWE Intercontinental Championship scene for a number of months now dating back to 2025, but there are some fresher faces in the mix as well.

Last week’s Raw saw Je’Von Evans face new Raw call-up Ethan Page in a match that was won by Page after Rusev distracted Evans.

It appears there could be four-way for the IC Title among these talents at some point soon, which could really see any of them leave as champion, but with Evans perhaps the favorite to win his first championship in WWE.