John Cena isn't surprised by the mixed reaction to The John Cena Classic—and he's totally fine with it. At WWE Backlash, the 16-time world champion unveiled plans for a new event where fan votes will determine the champion, leaving some fans questioning the value of wins and losses. Cena addressed the backlash head-on during a recent interview with CBS Sports HQ, while also promoting his new partnership with Tarsus Pharmaceuticals.
"I've heard the perspective that 'wins and losses don't matter.' That's a very valid point," Cena said. "I love listening to feedback. We have to figure out the fan votes. There's still a lot to be done."
But here's the thing—The John Cena Classic isn't meant to be a traditional WWE show. Think of it as WWE's version of an All-Star Game. The event is designed to spotlight the company's future by pairing main roster stars with NXT talent in exhibition-style matches. The focus is on the showcase, not the result.
"To sum it up in a sentence, it could be a version of WWE's All Star Game," Cena explained. "It's a night of exhibition. So we don't need to build any long lead stories into it. It's the present competing or paired with the future of the company—superstars from NXT."
The inspiration for the event runs deep, tracing back to Cena's own early days training in WWE's old developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). He remembers looking at a main roster stacked with legends like Triple H, Kane, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin, and The Rock, and wondering how he'd ever get his shot.
"I'm sitting in OVW thinking, 'Man, how will I ever get a chance?' because the main roster was stacked," Cena recalled.
Fast forward a quarter-century, and Cena's retirement match against Gunther was a full-circle moment. Every match on that undercard featured main roster superstars going head-to-head with NXT talent—the very same formula now powering The John Cena Classic. And the crowd loved every second of it.
"I was there in the arena. The night rocked. It was great. The crowd was fantastic," Cena said. "Sure, the retirement match had a lot of buzz behind it, but they were on their feet for all the matches."
As for which NXT star has caught his eye? Cena didn't name names, but with the event expected later this year, all eyes are on who will step into the ring and make their mark. One thing's for sure—whether you love the concept or have doubts, The John Cena Classic is shaping up to be a night no wrestling fan will want to miss.