EXCLUSIVE: Why six WWE superstars are 'prepared for agony' ahead of 'crazy' Las Vegas title match

LAS VEGAS: Pro wrestling is hard enough when it's just two people inside a ring.

But when you place six high-level athletes and ladders into the mix, chaos is bound to ensue and the risk becomes clearer than ever.

For half a dozen of WWE's most talented wrestlers, that risk of danger becomes a reality on Monday morning (AEST) when they vie for the Intercontinental Title - one of sports entertainment's most prestigious and storied championships.

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Current champion Penta won the gold earlier this year in both an emotional and historic moment, becoming the first Mexican-born wrestler to hold the title.

With his catchphrase "cero miedo" translating to "zero fear" in Spanish, it came as no surprise when Penta opted to lay down the gauntlet to five of his rivals on the grandest stage of them all - WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

"This is my second WrestleMania, but now I'm champion it's very special and I feel ready to show the world who I am against five other guys," he told Wide World Of Sports.

"I am ready to defend my gold and it will be crazy bro."

The 41-year-old took the long road to get to WWE, competing across the world and cementing himself as one of the greatest luchadores of his generation.

The end goal in mind for Penta was always to get to the top of WWE and support his family - most notably his young daughter, who followed him around Vegas while he did interviews, soaking it all in and even fielding questions from some reporters, as she prepares to become a wrestler one day under the guidance of her father.

"I came to WWE to conquer everything and this is just the beginning," Penta said.

"Becoming champion for me is everything - it doesn't just represent Penta, it represents my family, my culture, everyone. This title represents all the fighters in real life, too."

Among his opponents on night two of WrestleMania will be Hall of Fame superstar and beloved legend Rey Mysterio, who is entering the twilight of his career.

Another mask-wearing high-flyer in Dragon Lee is also in the mix, as will 21-year-old upstart Je'Von Evans, who has dazzled fans across the globe early in his career.

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"Honestly, it's very nerve-wracking, but it's such a blessing," he told the No-Contest Wrestling podcast this week.

"Literally a year ago, I was basically opening for Mania week or Mania weekend. Now I'm in WrestleMania, so it's crazy. It just shows that like hard work does pay off.

"I know I'm just getting started, you know what I mean? Honestly, I feel like we haven't even started yet. We just barely scratching the surface.

"I'm so honoured and I can't wait to see what happens."

Rusev, a colossal former multi-time champion in WWE with sheer power and intensity, and technical wizard JD McDonagh round out the field of competitors.

McDonagh's story has been an interesting one, following in the footsteps of his mentor Finn Balor all the way from Ireland to the bright lights of WWE.

The 36-year-old has long been in the shadow of Balor, one of WWE's most respected veterans, but is now starting to forge his own path as a singles wrestler - potentially even leading to a match between student and teacher down the line.

"This is the biggest match of my whole life," McDonagh told Wide World Of Sports.

"This is like my seventh or eighth Mania [since being signed to WWE], but it's the first time I'm actually having a match, so it's a whole other level of anticipation.

"Obviously people know myself and Finn are boys, but I've known him since I was 12 years old and we're more than friends, we're like brothers.

"He's obviously one of the best wrestlers in the world, so I would be mad not to want to get in there and mix it up with him and maybe step out of his big shadow.

"But as for this weekend and the Intercontinental Title ladder match, everyone is excited for it and it's a lot of pressure to deliver, but it's the best kind of pressure."

The pressure of wrestling in front of upwards of 50,000 people inside a stadium is no doubt daunting, no matter how experienced McDonagh might be.

But the added element of it being a ladder match - where wrestlers literally have to climb and retrieve the gold hanging above the ring - makes it incredibly dangerous, with the risk for serious injury at an unbelievable level as bodies and steel fly around.

McDonagh has had his fair share of injuries over the past 18 months that led to plenty of frustration but knock on wood, he will come out relatively unscathed this weekend in Vegas - even if he knows he will be in "agony" the next day.

"I've been throwing myself through ladders at home and setting objects on the wall for me to climb up, that kind of thing," he laughed.

"It's obviously frustrating being out with an injury, but I feel like it's par for the course with wrestling and especially people with my in-ring style.

"They say nobody gets out of wrestling unscathed and it's frustrating when you are sidelined, but it can be nice to pump the brakes and sit from the outside looking in and remember that if you're missing wrestling, it means you love it and it's for you.

"I'm mentally prepared for agony every morning after a match and this weekend will no different."

WrestleMania 42 will stream live on Netflix at 8am AEST on Sunday and Monday.