Every time Penta walks toward the ring, he does the same thing before saying a single word. He forms a circle with his thumb and index finger, then points his other three fingers downward. A moment later, he shouts his iconic catchphrase: “Cero Miedo!” Most new fans immediately understand the “zero” part of the gesture. What often confuses them are the three fingers. At first glance, it looks like nothing more than a cool entrance pose. But it actually carries a hidden hand-spelled message. Once you learn what it means, you’ll never look at Penta’s entrance the same way again.
Where “Cero Miedo” Actually Came From
Many fans assume Penta came up with the phrase “Cero Miedo” himself, but that’s not actually the case. He grew up listening to Mexican corrido music, including songs by Los Buitres de Culiacán Sinaloa, where the line “Cero miedo, mi compa” (“No fear, my friend”) is repeated throughout the lyrics.
The phrase stayed with him for years. During his early days in AAA, a promoter asked him how he was feeling before a match, and he simply replied, “Cero Miedo.” Fans connected with it almost instantly. Over time, Penta turned those two words into his signature identity by adding the iconic hand gesture, printing the slogan on merchandise, and making “Cero Miedo” an unforgettable part of every entrance.
The Mask Carries Its Own History
There’s another reason why “Cero Miedo” means so much to Penta. In Mexican wrestling, the Pentagón name and mask had long been associated with bad luck. Several wrestlers who used the character before him suffered injuries and setbacks during their careers, creating a superstition around the gimmick.
When Penta took over the Pentagón character in 2013, after previously wrestling under other masked identities such as Zaius and Dark Dragon, he inherited that reputation along with the mask. Making “Cero Miedo” his personal mantra became Penta’s way of rejecting that history. The phrase wasn’t just about showing no fear against opponents inside the ring—it was also a statement that he refused to believe in the so-called curse surrounding the Pentagón name. Instead of letting superstition define him, Penta chose to build his own legacy without fear.
From Mexican Independents to a Global Career
Penta’s journey to making the “Cero Miedo” gesture iconic took more than a decade. He made his professional debut in Mexico in 2007 and spent several years on the independent circuit before AAA introduced him as Pentagón Jr. in 2013. That role changed his career, and his international profile grew even bigger when Lucha Underground premiered in 2014. His first televised match for American audiences came against his real-life younger brother, Rey Fénix, instantly introducing fans to one of wrestling’s most exciting sibling rivalries.
That relationship soon evolved into one of the greatest tag teams of the modern era. Together, Penta and Fénix became known as The Lucha Brothers, winning tag team championships across some of the biggest promotions in professional wrestling, including AAA, Impact Wrestling, Major League Wrestling (MLW), Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), Ring of Honor (ROH), and AEW. In AEW, they also joined forces with PAC to form the popular Death Triangle faction. Penta added another historic achievement to his résumé by becoming the first masked wrestler to win the Impact World Championship, a milestone few masked performers have reached in the United States.
After building the “Cero Miedo” identity across Mexico, the U.S. independent scene, and several major television promotions, Penta took the next step in 2025 by signing with WWE. He debuted on Raw, bringing his signature catchphrase and iconic hand gesture to the biggest stage of his career.
Why This Kind of Symbolism Works So Well in Lucha Libre
Lucha libre has always relied on visual storytelling. Masks, signature poses, and unique gestures allow wrestlers to express their characters without saying a single word. Penta’s iconic hand sign is a perfect example of that tradition. It goes beyond language barriers, gives fans a gesture they can instantly copy, and creates an immediate connection between the wrestler and the crowd.
That’s one of the biggest reasons it has remained so memorable over the years. A mask may hide a wrestler’s identity, but a gesture like “Cero Miedo” reveals exactly who Penta is and what he stands for.
The Gesture Crossed Over Into the NFL
Penta’s signature hand gesture didn’t stay confined to the world of professional wrestling. San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle became a huge fan after watching Penta wrestle several matches during WrestleMania weekend, and the two eventually developed a genuine friendship. Since then, Kittle has used Penta’s iconic “zero” and “M” hand sign as his first-down celebration on the football field. The pair have also appeared together at public events on multiple occasions, including one memorable moment when Penta presented Kittle with a custom lucha mask designed in the 49ers’ team colors.
It’s a rare example of a wrestling gesture becoming recognizable far beyond the sport itself. Penta’s “Cero Miedo” hand sign has traveled from Mexican wrestling arenas to NFL stadiums while keeping the same meaning and identity that made it iconic in the first place.
Our Take
In my opinion, Penta’s greatest strength is that he doesn’t need to do much to show who he is. No long monologues and no emotional promos—just one signature hand gesture and two words: “Cero Miedo.” It sounds simple, but keeping that identity just as powerful across nearly two decades and eight different wrestling promotions is anything but easy. Every time Penta makes his entrance, there’s a different level of excitement in the arena. The moment he raises his hand to make the “Cero Miedo” sign and the entire crowd chants along with him, it’s a true goosebumps moment.
Most wrestling gestures lose their identity when a wrestler moves from one company to another. “Cero Miedo,” however, made the journey from Mexico’s independent scene all the way to WWE without ever needing a rebrand or a redesign. The fact that NFL star George Kittle adopted it as his own first-down celebration says even more. Very few wrestling signatures become so iconic that they break out of wrestling and find a place in mainstream sports culture.
Gaurav Sharma
Founder & Lead Writer, Wrestling Nightmare
I’ve been hooked on wrestling since childhood—from the Attitude Era to today’s Bloodline saga, plus AEW and TNA. My favorite match of all time is The Rock vs. Brock Lesnar (SummerSlam 2002), and I’ll always stand by Bray Wyatt’s untapped potential.
At Wrestling Nightmare, I break down news, analyze matches, and drop verified recaps. Got a correction or wanna debate? Hit me up at contact@wrestlingnightmare.com
