WWE is still working out the details of The John Cena Classic more than a week after John Cena announced the concept at Backlash, with several questions about the format remaining unanswered internally, according to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Cena unveiled the concept at Backlash: Tampa, describing it as a fan-voted championship competition involving both main roster and NXT talent. The announcement was made before WWE had finalized what the event would actually look like, with internal discussions still ongoing about whether it will take shape as a traditional tournament, a standalone special event, or something else entirely.
Both men’s and women’s championships tied to Cena’s branding are expected to be introduced as part of the concept. It remains unclear whether those titles would function similarly to the Crown Jewel Championships — defended once per year with little ongoing presence — or become regularly defended titles across WWE programming.
The fan voting element has created its own set of internal concerns. Because match outcomes would not be fully mapped out in advance, producers and talent could face challenges structuring matches in real time. Questions have also been raised internally about how veteran talent might react in situations where fan voting alters planned directions mid-event.
Both main roster and NXT talent are expected to participate in whatever form the Cena Classic ultimately takes. Speculation has also emerged that the concept could become an annual December event, timed to the one-year anniversary of Cena’s retirement. Cena has since acknowledged the concept could be a complete failure, describing it as a reflection of his personal values.