The John Cena Classic is coming to WWE, with the latest suggested date potentially putting it up against an AEW pay-per-view.
Announced at Backlash earlier this year, it was previously reported that the John Cena Classic was set to take place in the closing month of 2026, with December 12 being the tentative date.
With two John Cena appearances on WWE television this week, it looks like more details of the Classic will emerge soon, with a new date also being suggested:
December 12 is a busy day for WWE
December 12 would have seen the John Cena Classic, in whatever form it takes, happen on the same day as Wrestlepalooza in Perth, Australia.
More recently, NXT TLC was also announced for December 12, marking the first time the PLE concept has come to the brand.
The shows won’t go head-to-head, avoiding WWE counterprogramming itself, but it’s unlikely that the company will dilute things further by featuring main roster and NXT stars in the John Cena Classic on the same day.
Going head-to-head with AEW
Writing in the Wrestling Observer Daily Update, Dave Meltzer speculated that the John Cena Classic would take place a week later, putting it up against AEW Worlds End, given that December 12 is effectively bookended by two WWE shows, writing:
“To me, that puts 12/19 as the favorite for the Cena Classic, which would put it head-up against AEW Worlds End. But I suspect that gets announced tomorrow.
“It would appear the only other choice is 12/5, as I can’t see them doing it 12/26 since they are running two house shows that night, although one of them is in Madison Square Garden, but it’s already advertised as a house show.”
While it the date is yet to be confirmed, Cena appearing on Raw and NXT, with stars from both brands likely to appear in the Classic, does suggest firm details are set to emerge.
One to watch whenever it happens
Described as a showcase between main roster and NXT stars, the winner of the John Cena Classic is to be determined by the fans, assuming that WWE can get that aspect to work without being hijacked.
Assuming the show does go head-to-head with AEW Worlds End, it’s likely that it’ll broadcast live, whether that be on Netflix, YouTube or another partner. There’s always the possibility that, as with Worlds Collide, it’ll stream on a delay, with that show going up against All Out also in Chicago, streaming the following Wednesday on YouTube, while Dynamite was aired live on TBS and HBO Max.
When it comes to the possibility of a house show, such as the MSG one, hosting the Classic, there’s another possibility. Chad Gable recently defeated CM Punk on a house show, with reports suggesting that it may have been taped. Running the John Cena Classic at a house show would certainly make it one to watch, although it stops being a house show if it’s broadcast live for all to see.
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