John Cena Classic Set for December 14 at Disney World
The John Cena Classic will take place on December 14, 2026, as a special episode of “WWE Raw,” according to Wrestling Inc. and Fox News. This marks the event will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Two episodes of “Raw” will air on the same day, with one show scheduled earlier in Perth, Australia.
Wrestling Inc. reported that the event will feature current WWE stars competing against future talents from the “WWE NXT” roster. The announcement was made during the November 2 episode of “WWE Raw,” where John Cena revealed details to a crowd at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Cody Rhodes Named First Competitor
Cody Rhodes was officially announced as the first entrant in the John Cena Classic by John Cena during the November 2 “WWE Raw” episode. The “American Nightmare” previously faced Cena in a high-stakes match at WrestleMania 41, where Cena secured his 17th title. Rhodes later reclaimed the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam.
“I said you’re carrying a weight that you can’t handle. I was wrong. You’re just carrying it better than I ever could.”- John Cena to Cody Rhodes #WWERAW pic.twitter.com/25EsJj5y3l
Randy Orton interrupted the announcement to warn Rhodes about their upcoming Last Man Standing match at WWE Crown Jewel. Orton emphasized his experience in such matches, recalling that 25 years ago he was breaking into the business and putting it all on the line against John Cena, Brock Lesnar, and Dave Batista.
New WWE John Cena Championship Unveiled
The winner of the John Cena Classic will be awarded the WWE John Cena Championship, a new title belt unveiled by Cena during the “WWE Raw” episode. The belt, described as having the same structure as Cena’s signature spinner belt, was not demonstrated to spin, according to the main source. Subscribers to Club WWE will have a say in the outcome, as mentioned by Cena during the event.
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John Cena highlighted his personal connection to the event, quoting himself as saying, ‘This event encapsulates everything I stand for – perseverance, hustle, loyalty, respect.’ The championship’s voting mechanism involves fan input through Club WWE.
Event Format and Future Participants
Cena confirmed that the John Cena Classic will showcase a blend of main roster stars and NXT talents, with additional participants to be announced in the coming weeks. He plans to appear on “NXT,” “Friday Night SmackDown,” and Survivor Series: WarGames to reveal more competitors, as reported by Fox News.
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The format of the event remains unspecified, but WWE has indicated that wrestlers who lose their matches could still emerge as overall winners. Details about the competition’s structure are expected to be released over the next few weeks, according to Fox News.
FAQ
When is the John Cena Classic scheduled?
The John Cena Classic is set for December 14, 2026, as a special episode of “WWE Raw,” according to Wrestling Inc. and Fox News.
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Where will the event take place?
The event will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, as reported by Fox News.
Who is the first competitor announced?
Cody Rhodes was named the first entrant in the John Cena Classic by John Cena during the November 2 “WWE Raw” episode.
John Cena Classic To Take Place At Disney World On 12/14, Cody Rhodes Revealed As First Entrant https://t.co/wHiH730iYx
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