ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): WWE legend John Cena has announced a new wrestling tournament, the John Cena Classic, following his return to WWE Monday Night Raw on November 2, introducing a new championship title and promising exciting matchups between main-roster superstars and emerging NXT talent.
The 17-time world champion made three major announcements during his appearance on Raw in Brooklyn, New York, where he received a warm reception from wrestling fans.
John Cena Classic to Take Place on December 14
Cena confirmed that the inaugural John Cena Classic will take place on December 14, 2026, as part of a special episode of WWE Monday Night Raw.
WWE will broadcast two Raw episodes on that date. One will air earlier from Perth, Australia, while the special John Cena Classic event will be held at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
However, WWE has not yet revealed the exact venue within the resort.
Winner to Receive New WWE John Cena Championship
In another major announcement, Cena unveiled a newly designed championship belt, officially named the WWE John Cena Championship.
The tournament winner will be awarded the new title, whose design draws inspiration from Cena’s iconic spinner championship belt from his earlier WWE career.
Unlike the original spinner belt, however, the new championship will feature a stationary centrepiece rather than a rotating design.
Cena also revealed that WWE Club subscribers will have an opportunity to participate in selecting the tournament winner.
WWE Superstars to Compete Against NXT Talent
The John Cena Classic will feature a unique competition between established WWE main-roster superstars and rising wrestlers from the company’s developmental brand, NXT.
Cena confirmed Cody Rhodes as the first participant in the tournament. He is also expected to announce the names of participating NXT wrestlers during his appearance on NXT this week.
The remaining main-roster participants will be revealed in the coming weeks, with additional announcements expected during the Survivor Series event in Houston, Texas.
With a new championship at stake and competitors from both WWE and NXT, the John Cena Classic is set to introduce a new competitive feature to WWE programming.
