Published: 3 seconds ago by Sanchez Taylor | Last Updated: 3 seconds ago by Sanchez Taylor
Sanchez has over six years of pro-wrestling news writing experience, covering the biggest news stories in WWE, NXT, AEW, TNA Wrestling and more. He has personally interviewed a number of top stars, producing exclusive content with the likes of AEW’s Swerve Strickland and WWE’s Nick Aldis.
John Cena has shared an update on WWE plans for the John Cena Classic event, over two months on from the initial announcement.
At Backlash on May 10 the 17-time world champion announced the John Cena Classic, an in-ring event where fans will vote to crown a John Cena Classic Champion.
With there still being a lot of uncertainty surrounding the event, John Cena has confirmed that the Classic will take place in 2026, “towards the end of the calendar year”.
Speaking with Extra at San Diego Comic Con, John Cena said:
“What I can tell you is that we’re working towards it, and I cannot tell you how excited I am about it, the event, what it stands for. I want to do something great for WWE, for fans, towards the end of the calendar year.
“Man, I wish I could give you spoilers, but I’ve got to be loyal to my company. What I can tell you is we’re working on it, and I’m going to give you my absolute best.
“If an event is going to wear my name, especially in the WWE realm… I’m always giving my best to WWE, the classic will be no less.”
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Wrestlevotes and Fightful Select previously reported that while no date or venue had been nailed down as of May, a source had stated to them that an early-December timeframe would make “logistical sense” with WWE’s calendar, as well as the anniversary of John Cena’s last match.
John Cena’s retirement match took place on the December 13, 2025 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event, with the WWE legend tapping out to GUNTHER’s sleeper hold.
Dave Meltzer also reported in May that the John Cena Classic had been described to him as a “work in progress”, with WWE having not decided at that point whether the event would be a tournament format, or just several singles matches.
John Cena emphasised in his Backlash announcement that fans will be able to vote for stars regardless of if they win or lose their matches at the John Cena Classic event.
With Cena later admitting that WWE has to figure out how to conduct the vote in a way where trolls cannot hijack it, it has been heavily speculated that voting will only be available to WWE Club members.
With WWE announcing the event so far in advance, and Cena being open about how this is a big risk, it will be interesting to see how the John Cena Classic ultimately unfolds.
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