John Cena may be set for a more active role on WWE programming later this year as plans for the inaugural John Cena Classic continue to take shape.
Speaking with Us Weekly, the retired WWE legend discussed his vision for the tournament, which is still in development and reportedly targeted for late 2026. While no official date or location has been announced, John Cena revealed that he hopes to play a hands-on role in building the event, including personally inviting participants from Raw, SmackDown and NXT.
“I envision a world where it’s exhibition matches, WWE Superstars competing with NXT Superstars,” Cena said.
The 17-time world champion explained that he wants the tournament to feel like a major attraction, complete with participant reveals, bracket announcements and the unveiling of a new championship.
“I love a world where I personally invite the talent to participate so they know how much it means to me,” Cena said. “That means more trips to Raw, more trips to SmackDown, more trips to NXT.”
Cena also discussed plans for fan involvement, noting that the eventual John Cena Classic Champion will be determined through audience voting. Under the proposed format, both winners and losers of tournament matches would remain eligible to receive votes. However, Cena stressed that ensuring a fair voting process will be a key priority.
“We’ve got to figure out the fan vote. I do not want it sabotaged. I do not want it hijacked,” he said.
The WWE Hall of Famer once again compared the concept to an All-Star Game, describing it as an event designed to celebrate WWE’s roster while giving fans a direct role in determining the outcome.
John Cena Compared His Classic Tournament To The Arnold Classic Bodybuilding Competition
John Cena also likened the tournament to the Arnold Classic bodybuilding competition, where Arnold Schwarzenegger remained closely associated with the event even as the focus shifted to the competitors themselves.
Although WWE has yet to formally announce broadcast details, reports suggest that Netflix is interested in carrying the event when it launches. For now, the John Cena Classic remains a work in progress, but Cena’s latest comments suggest fans may be seeing much more of him on WWE television as preparations continue.
