During the 2026 WWE Backlash premium live event in April, 17-time WWE World Champion John Cena announced the John Cena Classic tournament, which will feature stars from both NXT and the main roster. Fans, however, are still awaiting official details regarding the tournament and its expected start date.
According to PWInsider.com, a source within WWE mentioned that the tournament is scheduled to take place "at the end of the year." Previously, a WWE Town Hall meeting for employees indicated that the tournament is being targeted for the latter half of 2026.
The John Cena Classic tournament is also expected to include a fan voting component. As of now, WWE has not announced the specific details about when the tournament will begin. The winner of the tournament will receive the John Cena Classic Championship.
