The John Cena Classic will take place Monday, December 14, 2026, at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World, John Cena announced on WWE Raw on November 2. The one-night WWE event puts today’s stars against NXT’s rising stars, and the fans pick the winner, who becomes the first John Cena Classic Champion. Cody Rhodes is the first wrestler Cena invited. Tickets have not been announced yet.
Why Disney World: In September, TKO President Mark Shapiro said WWE and Disney were working on “special events” for families in 2027, and we wondered if ESPN Wide World of Sports could be part of it. WWE has not said if the Classic is one of those events, but WWE is coming to the complex even sooner. ESPN, owned by Disney, already streams WWE’s premium live events in the U.S., and this is one more big ESPN moment at Disney before ESPN calls its first Super Bowl in February.
Cena first announced the Classic at WWE Backlash in May. Wrestlers from Raw and SmackDown face NXT talent, and you do not have to win your match to win the title. The crowd decides who earns it.
Cena said voting will run through Club WWE. WWE has not explained how it works yet. Cena showed off the new John Cena Classic Championship on Raw. It has a black strap and a big gold center plate with Cena’s signature, his famous salute and “Champion” across the bottom.
Cody Rhodes is the first invite. Cena said he will scout for more at NXT, on Raw and at Survivor Series. Cena said there will be two episodes of Raw that Monday for the first time ever, one from Perth, Australia, and one from Orlando. WWE has not said if the Classic is part of Raw or where to watch it.
ESPN, owned by Disney, holds the U.S. rights to WWE’s big premium live events, and back in September, reports said WWE was looking at ESPN Wide World of Sports for events. It is another big ESPN moment at Disney, right before ESPN calls its first Super Bowl in February. NXT is based in Orlando at the WWE Performance Center, so the NXT side will be wrestling in its own backyard.
In the 1990s, WCW taped TV shows at Disney-MGM Studios, now Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
What we do not know yet:
- When tickets go on sale and how much they cost
- What time it starts
- Which building at the complex it will be in
- How to watch from home
This is a big get for Walt Disney World. A WWE event at ESPN Wide World of Sports, with the fans picking the champion, is a fun way to use the complex. If tickets go on sale, expect them to be a tough ticket. Find more Walt Disney World news here.
