A WWE Hall of Famer has shared their concerns about the new John Cena Classic format, questioning whether the concept could hurt the suspension of disbelief that professional wrestling relies upon.
Speaking on his My World podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett explained that while he understands the business appeal behind the tournament and praised John Cena as a performer, he believes the social media voting aspect of the format creates problems from a storytelling perspective.
The new concept reportedly incorporates fan voting across social media platforms to help determine the eventual champion rather than relying solely on in-ring victories. Jarrett said he understands why the format could appeal commercially.
“I get it from a business perspective,” Jarrett explained. “It’s the funnel to get people engaged and there’s going to be an X poll, there’s going to be a TikTok poll, they’re going to be on every social media platform.”
However, Jarrett questioned how fans are supposed to emotionally invest in matches if winning and losing become less important to the overall story.
“But from the storytelling component of this, you can become champion and you don’t have to win your matches,” Jarrett said.
Jarrett added that wrestling audiences still want to be emotionally immersed in stories, despite understanding the industry’s scripted nature.
“The whole world knows we’re scripted entertainment, but we at least want to get lost in the story, someone trying to WIN the title,” he continued. “It takes that component out, the suspension of disbelief.”
Jarrett also questioned whether fans would remain invested in match drama and false finishes if match outcomes no longer carry significant weight within the format.
“If we don’t need to get immersed in the story, why do we care when a hip toss happens or a false finish happens or there’s a spectacular move off the top rope?” he asked.
When Will The John Cena Classic Start?
WWE has yet to confirm the start date of the John Cena Classic tournament, but rumours suggest it may begin in November on an episode of Raw in Cena’s hometown of Boston, Massachusetts.
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