Rey Mysterio made a major move on Raw on April 6, 2026, as he officially joined the Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match at WrestleMania 42. The announcement came during a high-energy night at the Toyota Center in Houston, where the road to WrestleMania kept tightening around several top names. Rey Mysterio was one of the loudest story beats on a show built around pressure, payback, and final buildup.
Rey Mysterio enters the WrestleMania picture
The biggest immediate development tied to Rey Mysterio came when he got on the mic and said he was in the WrestleMania Intercontinental Championship ladder match. That put his return, after injury, into a far more significant lane than a routine appearance. It also gave Raw one of its clearest live developments of the night, with Rey Mysterio suddenly inserted into a match that already carries major stakes.
The announcement landed during a show that was already packed with WrestleMania momentum. CM Punk opened the night in Houston after driving Roman Reigns through the announce table last week, then spent the segment addressing Reigns, who was not in Houston. Punk called Reigns “safe, ” “boring, ” and “plastic, ” while promising more heat to come before the title clash.
Big names keep the pressure high on Raw
Raw also featured appearances and matchups built to keep the WrestleMania lanes moving. LA Knight faced Austin Theory, while Finn Bálor battled JD McDonagh in a personal matchup involving former Judgment Day allies. Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky reunited against B-Fab and Michin, and Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar were both on hand as their own showdown draws closer.
The show’s tone was fast and confrontational, with several threads clearly aimed at the next major stage. Seth Rollins was set to address Gunther after taking a brutal attack last week, while the night also had room for further twists involving Becky Lynch, Jey Uso, and other advertised names.
Immediate reactions inside the ring and around the show
Punk’s opening segment framed the night’s emotional center. He said of Roman Reigns, “If Roman Reigns hates me, then I’m right where I need to be because I won’t trade my authenticity for approval. ” He also promised Pat McAfee a receipt after Friday night’s attack on Cody Rhodes, extending the tension beyond the Reigns rivalry.
The live atmosphere around Rey Mysterio was simpler but no less important: his announcement changed the WrestleMania ladder match field in real time. That mattered because the Intercontinental Championship spotlight now has another proven name attached to it, and the added presence of Rey Mysterio raises the temperature on a match already heading into a crowded field.
What Rey Mysterio changes heading into WrestleMania
The quick version is that Rey Mysterio made Raw sharper and more urgent. His place in the Intercontinental Championship ladder match gives the WrestleMania lineup another clear hook, and it does so at a time when every segment on Raw is being used to push momentum toward April 6, 2026’s biggest show. With Rey Mysterio now in the mix, the next Raw developments will matter even more as the final path to WrestleMania gets locked in.
