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John Cena teased “history-making” news ahead of WWE Backlash on Saturday, and he delivered.
Cena announced the formation of the John Cena Classic, which will be a showcase for pro wrestling talent across the entire WWE roster – from the main brands to NXT. He said the event will feature a fan-voted champion. WWE wrestlers who lose their respective matches can still end up as the overall winner of the event.
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John Cena smiles during WWE Backlash at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Fla., on May 9, 2026. (Michael Owens/WWE via Getty Images)
“I am so honored tonight to announce the John Cena Classic for you. A full night of the best of today competing with the best of tomorrow,” Cena explained to the crowd in Tampa, Florida. “A whole event where WWE Superstars and NXT Superstars get an opportunity to give you everything they’ve got in hopes of being crowned a champion.
“… And not just any championship. This is an event and this is a championship that I personally put my name on. So I will strive for a certain level of excellence and I will also do everything I can to make it something special.”
John Cena walks to the ring during Survivor Series at Petco Park in San Diego, California on November 29, 2025. (Georgiana Dallas/WWE)
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Cena reiterated that the “biggest star” in WWE was the crowd. He said fans will vote to “crown the champion of the John Cena Classic,” noting that everyone on the card is eligible for the championship.
The 17-time WWE Champion recalled how much he enjoyed putting WWE’s future on the map ahead of his final match. While Cena lost to Gunther, several other up-and-coming talents were able to make their mark in front of a massive crowd in Washington, DC, in December.
The event saw Sol Ruca defeat Bayley, Oba Femi take on Cody Rhodes and Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater take on AJ Styles and Dragon Lee in a tag team match.
Femi later challenged and defeated Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42, and Evans came up just short of the Intercontinental Championship at the same event. Ruca has since made it to Raw and is set to challenge Becky Lynch for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, while Leon Slater is closing in on a record-tying X-Division Championship for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).
Oba Femi enters the ring during WrestleMania 42: Night 2 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 19, 2026. (Craig Melvin/WWE)
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It’s unclear when the event will take place, but it will add to a busy schedule WWE has coming up through the summer.
