WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night 2 Results As Chad Gable Wins IC Title In His Hometown

Chad Gable won his first singles title in WWE after beating Penta for the WWE Intercontinental Championship in an emotional match.

Chad Gable spent much of last year recovering from surgery after inflaming lucha libre fans with his El Grande Americano gimmick. As an American disguised as a luchador, Gable was a top heel in Triple A until a shoulder injury forced Ludwig Kaiser into his role. What was intended to be an absurdist comedy act turned the second El Grande Americano into a folk hero as Kaiser ran with the gimmick and never looked back.

Typically, this bait-and-switch would lead to a Wally Pipp situation where Pipp’s replacement (in this case Lou Gehrig) never gave up his spot. While this scenario did play out with the El Grande Americanos, it was not without a dramatic blowoff match at El Noche de los Grandes as Gable unsuccessfully battled to become the one and only El Grande Americano. Thankfully for Chad Gable, his loss came in the match of the year in 2026, and this led to a babyface redemption tour with Chad Gable playing his true self as opposed to a heel luchador.

Gable’s arc led him to his hometown of Minneapolis, where he slayed the lucha dragon known as Penta. If this isn’t cinema, I don’t know what is.

• Chad Gable received a huge hometown pop as he too was dressed in purple and gold like the Super Bowl-depraved Minnesota Vikings. Fans also cheered for Penta, but when the bell rang, Minnesota was fully behind Gable.

• Chad Gable and Penta shook hands as Gable’s family watched from ringside. Gable came out of the breaks on the offensive against Penta. Gable then rushed into a backbreaker by Penta for a nearfall.

• Penta dominated Gable with a barrage of offense, including a dive to the outside and a Made in Japan for a two count. Gable suplexed Penta into the corner and went for a flying headbutt, but Penta caught him in an armbar, busting Gable’s shoulder. The match came to a halt.

• Penta showed little remorse and targeted Gable’s surgically repaired shoulder. “I’m sorry, Chad,” Penta said as he peppered Gable with kicks. Chad Gable countered with an ankle lock and later an armbar over the top rope. Chad Gable hit a German suplex on the apron on Penta and followed up with a picture-perfect moonsault to the outside.

• Penta hit a Mexican Destroyer on Chad Gable and the two landed awkwardly. The referee had to check on both wrestlers, who were fine, but the crowd was now even more invested in the match after the dangerous bump. Gable countered the Mexican Destroyer with an ankle lock. Penta desperately tried to fight out of the hold, but Gable locked in and made Penta submit in the middle of the ring.

• After the match, Chad Gable cut a similar promo to his emotional monologue after being unmasked. This time, however, it was a happy moment as he declared himself as the Intercontinental champion.

Chad Gable received a huge hometown pop as he too was dressed in purple and gold like the Super Bowl-depraved Minnesota Vikings. Fans also cheered for Penta, but when the bell rang, Minnesota was fully behind Gable.

Chad Gable and Penta shook hands as Gable’s family watched from ringside. Gable came out of the breaks on the offensive against Penta. Gable then rushed into a backbreaker by Penta for a nearfall.

Penta dominated Gable with a barrage of offense, including a dive to the outside and a Made in Japan for a two count. Gable suplexed Penta into the corner and went for a flying headbutt, but Penta caught him in an armbar, busting Gable’s shoulder. The match came to a halt.

Penta showed little remorse and targeted Gable’s surgically repaired shoulder. “I’m sorry, Chad,” Penta said as he peppered Gable with kicks. Chad Gable countered with an ankle lock and later an armbar over the top rope. Chad Gable hit a German suplex on the apron on Penta and followed up with a picture-perfect moonsault to the outside.

Penta hit a Mexican Destroyer on Chad Gable and the two landed awkwardly. The referee had to check on both wrestlers, who were fine, but the crowd was now even more invested in the match after the dangerous bump. Gable countered the Mexican Destroyer with an ankle lock. Penta desperately tried to fight out of the hold, but Gable locked in and made Penta submit in the middle of the ring.

After the match, Chad Gable cut a similar promo to his emotional monologue after being unmasked. This time, however, it was a happy moment as he declared himself as the Intercontinental champion.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com