Backstage Reaction to Penta After 9/14 WWE RAW Generates Strong Viewership Numbers

As previously reported, the September 14, 2026, edition of WWE RAW in Mexico City drew 3.1 million global views on Netflix, becoming the most-watched episode of the Monday Night Show since the RAW after WrestleMania 42.

The biggest attraction of the episode was obviously Penta challenging Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship. In the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio (WOR), Dave Meltzer revealed the backstage response to the record views that RAW generated last week on the back of Penta and Reigns.

According to Meltzer, people backstage acknowledged Penta’s drawing power after the viewership numbers came out. Here’s what Meltzer said [via F4WOnline]:

“Raw last Monday, Roman Reigns–Penta did phenomenal numbers, and the only show this year that beat it was the Raw after WrestleMania. It beat the Raw after Royal Rumble by a small amount, but it did beat it. It was down from the Raw after WrestleMania, but I have heard from people in the company when this thing came out and, like, there’s no denying Penta. Roman Reigns and Penta as a match, I mean, everyone knows that that’s what drew the number. Here’s the thing: it drew the second biggest number of the year against a Monday Night Football game that had 23.2 million viewers. So realistically, if you take away that Monday Night Football game, it probably beats the Raw after WrestleMania. Almost certainly, actually, I would say would beat the Raw after WrestleMania.“

“This match was huge, obviously huge in Mexico, but it was huge in many countries, including countries that WWE usually isn’t huge in. So I think that there’s no doubt that when this number comes out, everybody’s looking at Penta very differently. And also, Roman Reigns as well, as far as he had a match on television that was the biggest match on television of the year for them on Raw worldwide.”

Despite his best efforts, Penta failed to dethrone Roman last week. However, he was added to a Men’s MITB Qualifier this past Monday after Solo Sikoa was kidnapped by 946. Penta ended up winning that match against Dragon Lee and Dominik Mysterio to book his spot in the upcoming Men’s MITB Ladder Match.

Penta QUALIFIES for Money in the Bank!!!! 👏@PENTAELZEROM pic.twitter.com/pWajRBL6DR

— WWE (@WWE) September 22, 2026