Cena Sets December Date for Fan-Voted Championship Classic at Disney World
The wrestling icon confirmed the event will be part of a two-part Monday Night Raw broadcast, with Cody Rhodes named as the first participant.
By Kofi Costa ·
Seventeen title reigns defined John Cena’s legacy in the ring, but his latest venture shifts the focus to the fans. The WWE superstar announced on Monday Night Raw in Brooklyn, New York, that the John Cena Classic will take place on December 14.
The event will run as a two-part edition of Monday Night Raw. While portions of the roster will perform in Perth, Australia, the competitors for the new championship will gather at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World. Cena stated he has his heart and soul in the project, noting that the award features his image and embodies perseverance, hustle, loyalty, and respect.
Cody Rhodes became the first wrestler to receive an invitation. The two men spent much of 2025 as adversaries. Cena defeated Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 to capture his record-setting 17th championship. Rhodes regained the title at SummerSlam later that year. During the announcement, Cena addressed Rhodes directly, telling the American Nightmare that he was wrong to doubt his ability to handle the pressure of being QB1. Cena said Rhodes was executing the role better than anyone else could.
Cena called the event everything Rhodes stands for and officially extended the invitation. He expressed his affection for the rival, saying he was glad to include him in the competition. The format remains open to interpretation for now. Cena indicated that fans who subscribe to Club WWE will influence the outcome. Wrestlers who lose individual matches may still emerge as the overall winner of the classic.
The concept originated in May during Backlash. At that time, Cena outlined a competition drawing stars from each top brand. The champion will be determined by fan vote. He compared the event to WWE’s All-Star Game in a May interview with Sports Illustrated. Cena plans to appear on upcoming episodes of Raw, NXT, Friday Night SmackDown, and Survivor Series: WarGames to reveal additional invitees. More specific details regarding the rules and structure are expected in the coming weeks.
