John Cena Reveals Why He Created The John Cena Classic

WWE Backlash 2026 saw John Cena announce the upcoming ‘John Cena Classic’, and the multi-time World Champion has revealed why he created the upcoming series.

The assumed tournament will pit the ‘stars of today vs. the stars of tomorrow’ with the eventual champion decided by fan vote regardless of wins or losses - a move that has courted controversy and attracted criticism from fans and industry professionals alike.

Cena has since taken to X/Twitter to explain more behind the creation of the tournament, saying the following:



“When asked to give advice, especially with WWE, I often reply ‘be authentic’ ‘do not fear failure’ ‘know your why.’ The John Cena Classic may not be perfect by any means yet it’s authentically me (I am not perfect either) and reflects my values and beliefs. I’m aware that there is the risk it might be a total failure and I’m not afraid of that and believe it’s still worth stepping ‘in the arena.’

“My ‘why’ in WWE is to consistently be as useful as possible for as long as possible, with my in ring career at an end, my ‘why’ is to use whatever energy or relevance I have left in hopes to create a launchpad of opportunity for all talent to show their skills while simultaneously creating a unique experience for our dedicated fan base. At the very least.. we all learn something At the very best.. we all create something I’m ready for wherever the road takes us. Thank you WWE for this opportunity More details to come as we figure all this out! Sincerely, John Cena.”