The John Cena Classic announced at Backlash on Saturday is still very much being figured out, with Dave Meltzer reporting that WWE has not yet determined what the event will actually look like.
Meltzer reported in a Wrestling Observer Daily Update that the John Cena Classic has been described to him as a work in progress, with WWE not having decided on the format of the event before making the announcement at Backlash. The company had wanted to make the announcement at the show, which led to the reveal happening before the full details were ironed out.
Cena announced the John Cena Classic during Saturday’s PLE, describing it as an event featuring main roster versus NXT matches with a fan vote determining who wins the new John Cena Classic Championship, regardless of match outcome.
“You, the audience, the fan, will vote to crown the champion of the John Cena Classic. Every participant qualifies, which also means for the first time in history, a superstar might not win their match, but their hustle could earn your respect, win your heart, win your vote, and you can still crown them the John Cena Classic Champion,” Cena said at Backlash.
WWE has yet to confirm the date, location, or format for the event. Speculation has been divided between the concept being a tournament where wrestlers advance based on popular vote rather than match result, or simply a card of individual main roster versus NXT bouts with all participants eligible for the championship vote.
Questions have also been raised about the mechanics of the fan vote, including whether it will be accessible to the general public or gated behind the Club WWE membership program that Cena announced alongside the Classic concept. John Cena has since acknowledged there is a chance the concept could be a complete failure, describing it as a reflection of his personal values. Bayley has also reacted publicly to a reported pitch for her to face NXT Women’s North American Champion Tatum Paxley at the event.
