John Cena Classic: Latest update on WWE plans & tentative schedule
(Courtesy : WWE.com)
The 17-time Champion announced the tournament in his return at WWE Backlash 2026.
The 17-time WWE World Champion John Cena, during his return at the 2026 edition of WWE Backlash 2026, announced the ‘John Cena Classic.’ Per Cena, the event will showcase main roster stars facing off against NXT talent, similar to the December 13, 2025, edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event, which featured Cena’s retirement match.
“The best of today competing with the best of tomorrow, in the hopes of being crowned a Champion.“
A John Cena Classic Championship is also planned, though the winner would be decided through fan voting rather than an in-ring match. Every participant who qualifies may not win the match, but the fans can still crown them Champion.
No date or venue has been planned for the John Cena Classic
An earlier report revealed that the tournament is still a work in progress, as WWE wanted to announce the tournament despite not yet finalizing its exact format.
Talking about the announcement in a recent conversation with Adam’s Apple, Cena expressed his excitement for the tournament, while confirming that it is still a work in progress. However, reiterated that he is personally involved.
“Oh my God, I’m super excited. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time. And, again, we’re still working things out. And I like that, I like that it’s a work in progress. But this is absolutely from me.
I can’t tell you how excited I am about it. I am fully invested in this. I can’t wait to see what it is. I can’t wait until we announce the date and location. That’s obviously step one, and we’ll go from there,”
Now, a report from WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select has revealed that no official date or venue has been finalized yet for the John Cena Classic.
However, one source noted that holding the event in December would make logistical sense for WWE’s schedule, while also coinciding with the one-year anniversary of Cena’s retirement, which, as noted, was at the December edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event.
What is the John Cena Classic?
The John Cena Classic is a newly announced tournament concept tied to John Cena and WWE. “The best of today competing with the best of tomorrow, in the hopes of being crowned a Champion.“
When and where will the tournament take place?
Per WrestleVotes, no official date or venue has been finalized yet for the John Cena Classic.
For more updates, follow Khel Now Wrestling on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram & Whatsapp.
Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.