Penta has reflected on his WrestleMania 42 Intercontinental Championship ladder match defense, singling out Rey Mysterio’s presence as what made the night uniquely special.
Speaking with Cancha Libre and El Rancagüino TV, Penta described the match as a watershed moment in his career and expressed deep emotion about sharing the WrestleMania stage with one of his childhood idols.
“Very happy, satisfied with the result and with everything I have been doing since my arrival at WWE. Of course it was, without a doubt, an important watershed in my career because, in that match, I faced one of my great idols, Rey Mysterio. Being able to share a WrestleMania with him is something I will never forget. History is marked and this will be marked in my memory and heart. I think that made it even more special, even more peculiar to have defended the Championship at WrestleMania 42. I think it was one of the best matches of the two nights, happy for the result, thanking my rivals because they also came out to give their 100%. Now the plan is to continue working hard to face any rival who wants to challenge me for my championship,” Penta said (H/T to Fightful).
He went further when specifically asked about what it meant to have Mysterio in the match alongside him.
“If I tell you this as a fan, it’s a dream come true. Imagine the best stage in the world, in front of a stadium packed with people who came to see us. Ladder matches are something I mastered very well, with me as the champion facing five great opponents. Among them, the one you mentioned, who is my mentor, my role model in this business, Reycito, whom I admire, love, and respect with deep sincerity. I think that made it incredibly special and allowed me to savor it in a totally different way than if it had been a match with another wrestler, which I would have also enjoyed. But specifically, the fact that it was with Rey Mysterio is the perfect scenario for any dreamer. It’s the perfect scenario for any wrestler who admires someone, to face your idol under those conditions, in that context. What can I say? I feel blessed, honored, and grateful to life, to God for putting me in that moment, because I am a very faithful believer in that. I think this was the perfect scenario, the perfect opponents, but I was the perfect wrestler, and the result showed it. That’s why I’m still the Intercontinental Champion,” Penta said.
Penta retained the Intercontinental Championship in the ladder match on night two of WrestleMania 42 over Je’Von Evans, Dragon Lee, JD McDonagh, Rusev, and Mysterio.