As previously reported, WWE legend and 17-time World Champion John Cena announced the John Cena Classic during the 2026 WWE Backlash premium live event.
Similar to last December’s WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, which featured Cena’s farewell match, the John Cena Classic will showcase main roster superstars competing against NXT wrestlers. However, unlike traditional formats where match outcomes determine the winners, this event will rely on fan votes to decide the champion.
According to Dave Meltzer in the most recent edition of the Wrestling Observer Daily, the John Cena Classic is still a work in progress, as WWE has not finalized the tournament’s format. Meltzer also mentioned that Cena has not disclosed the date or venue for the tournament. The response to this concept has been mixed, with many expressing concerns about fans’ votes potentially overriding match results as the standard for determining winners. It is yet to be confirmed whether voting will be available to Club WWE subscribers or the general public.
In a post on his Twitter (X) account, Cena acknowledged that the concept might ultimately be a “total failure” and described it as a reflection of his beliefs and values.
