John Cena has revealed the first major details of the John Cena Classic, including its date, venue, championship and first confirmed competitor.

Appearing on WWE Raw in Brooklyn, Cena announced that the event will take place at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, on December 14. The show will form part of an unusual day for WWE, with two episodes of Raw taking place on the same date.

The first will be held earlier in the day in Perth, Australia, following Wrestlepalooza. A second episode will then air live from Orlando, with the John Cena Classic taking centre stage.

Cena originally announced the concept at Backlash in Tampa, revealing that fans would vote on matches featuring main roster talent against NXT stars. The format follows a similar approach to the December Saturday Night’s Main Event show that featured his final match.

During his latest appearance, Cena also unveiled the John Cena Classic Championship. The title features his likeness and takes inspiration from his famous WWE Championship spinner belt.

Fans will be able to cast their votes through Club WWE, although that announcement drew boos from the Brooklyn crowd.

Cena then introduced Cody Rhodes as the first official invitee to the Classic. Rhodes’ opponent has yet to be announced, leaving fans waiting to discover which NXT star could be handed a major opportunity.

His involvement in the Orlando event also appears to make a Wrestlepalooza appearance in Australia unlikely, although that has not been confirmed.

Cena said he will make further appearances before the Classic, including a stop at Survivor Series in Houston later this month.

Who would you like to see face Cody Rhodes in the John Cena Classic? Share your picks in the comments.

BREAKING NEWS: @JohnCena just announced the John Cena Classic will take place on Dec. 14 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex! pic.twitter.com/VZk9lam17L

, WWE (@WWE) November 3, 2026