Penta Suffers Serious Shoulder Injury During “The Last Time Is Now” Tournament
The Injury bug has hit another participant in the WWE “Last Time is Now” tournament. On Monday’s episode of Raw, it was WWE superstar Penta. The luchador’s shot at a historic match against John Cena evaporated in a heartbreaking instant.
Another One Bites the Dust: The Cursed Tournament
During his quarterfinal match against Solo Sikoa, Penta attempted a high-risk hurricanrana off the ringside barricade. It’s a move he’s likely done a thousand times, but Penta landed awkwardly on his shoulder, and he was clearly in pain.
The injury was so severe that the medical staff had to call off the match. Just like that, it was over. Sikoa was declared the winner by forfeit, handed a golden ticket to the semifinals, not through a hard-fought victory, but because his opponent suffered a legitimate injury. Sikoa now gets a date with Gunther, who had a much more straightforward path by actually, you know, wrestling and beating Carmelo Hayes.
This Injury Sucks For Penta
You have to feel for Penta. The guy is one of the most popular acts in WWE, sees a massive opportunity on the horizon, and then a freak accident snatches it all away. The visible anger and disappointment on his face as he was escorted away said it all. This wasn’t just a missed spot; it was a missed career-defining moment.
What also sucks is that the Lucha Brothers were going to reunite in an upcoming AAA show. If you have not seen Penta & Fenix together in the ring for their tag team matches, they are amazing. With Penta injured, it looks like their reunion will be a later date.
Who knows how long Penta will be out, but many have forgotten that he’s been wrestling injured for 3 years. Penta admitted during one of Sheamus’ Celtic Warrior Workout videos about his bicep injury. I don’t know how he has done that, and if he is out, maybe get that issue fixed as well.
Is This Tournament Even Worth It?
This latest injury just adds another layer of chaos to a tournament that’s already been plagued by problems. Let’s not forget, LA Knight was originally slated to face Sheamus. But “The Celtic Warrior” had to be pulled from the bracket due to his own unfortunate injury. So now LA Knight is in limbo, waiting for a replacement opponent to be named. At this rate, they might have to pull a random guy from the audience to fill the spot.
It all begs the question: was this whole tournament even a good idea? This was meant to be a grand send-off for Cena, a prestigious journey to determine his final opponent. The bracket is in shambles, and the drama is less about competition and more about which wrestler will be the next unfortunate victim of this cursed tournament.
Let’s Be Honest, Everyone Knew For Months Gunther Was Going To Face Cena Last
Frankly, it feels like a convoluted mess that’s putting wrestlers at unnecessary risk for a foregone conclusion. Most fans could have told you weeks ago that Gunther was the likely man for the job. Why not just build a direct angle between him and Cena? It would have been cleaner, more compelling, and probably safer for everyone involved. Instead, we’re watching top-tier talent get sidelined.
As Cena prepares for Survivor Series: WarGames and then his final bow in Washington, D.C., the tournament to decide his opponent feels less like an honor and more like a liability. Let’s just hope the remaining competitors make it through unscathed. But with the way things are going, I wouldn’t bet on it.
