As per a report from PWMania.com, WWE legend and 17-time World Reigning champion John Cena let slip the creation of the John Cena Classic during the 2026 Backlash premium live spectacular in May. While details about the tournament are limited, it is confirmed that wrestlers from all three brands—RAW, SmackDown, and NXT—will compete, with the winner being determined by fan votes.
Faithful have been curious about when WWE plans to host the inaugural tournament, since the announcement. The company has not yet finalized a location, reports have informed False Finish that the show is tentatively scheduled for December 12th; however.
In May, PWInsider.com noted that WWE aims to hold the show after Survivor Series, which is set for November 28th in Houston, Texas.
Cena was asked for an update on the tournament, at San Diego Comic-Con most fresh month. Notably, although he did not provide concrete details about how the tournament would be structured, he mentioned that both he and the company are looking to hold the pay-per-view toward the end of this year.