Rey Mysterio earns WWE Intercontinental Championship match on Raw

Rey Mysterio has a lot on his plate these days. Outside the ring, he’s going to a major onscreen character in Mexico. And inside the ring, he’s still in major championship contention.

Over the weekend, Mysterio was named the new General Manager in AAA. Just a few days later, on Monday Night Raw, he earned a shot at the WWE Intercontinental Championship. 

Mysterio defeated Rusev to win the IC title shot. He hung Rusev in the ropes and attempted a 619, but Rusev caught the swinging kick and dragged Mysterio to the middle of the ring to apply the accolade. Mysterio slipped out of the submission hold and hooked a schoolboy for the win. 

Afterwards, Mysterio was attacked by Rusev and Ethan Page. Dragon Lee hit the ring to even the odds, and the babyfaces sent the heels packing.

Penta is the reigning Intercontinental Champion. He won the belt from Rey’s son Dominik Mysterio at Survivor Series: War Games last November, and most recently defended it against Je’Von Evans tonight on Monday Night Raw. 

The elder Mysterio is a two-time former Intercontintal champion himself. He first won the title from John “Bradshaw” Layfield at WrestleMania 25 in 2009. (To date, this remains JBL’s last singles match.) He lost the title to Chris Jericho at Extreme Rules in June that same year, then beat Jericho to win it back in a mask vs. title match The Bash later that month. 

He eventually lost the championship to John Morrison on SmackDown the following September. 

He has unsuccessfully challenged for the title several times since then, most recently in a six-man ladder match at WrestleMania 42. Penta walked in and out of that match as champion. JD McDonagh, Rusev, Dragon Lee, and Evans were the other combatants in the match.