The John Cena Classic remains on track for December 12 despite WWE announcing another major event scheduled for the very same day.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the target date for the Cena special is still December 12, though no venue or additional details have been locked in yet.
The scheduling overlap is notable because WWE announced Wrestlepalooza: Perth this week, also set for December 12 at RAC Arena in Australia. The premium live event is part of a new three-year deal between WWE and the Western Australia government.
How WWE plans to handle both events on the same date remains unclear. There has been no confirmation that the John Cena Classic will take place in Perth, run as part of Wrestlepalooza, or see its plans adjusted.
Wrestle Features @WrestleFeatures Follow However the location/details are TBD (despite WWE announcing a PLE for that date yesterday).
(WON)
2:31 PM · Aug 28, 2026Cena himself announced the John Cena Classic at Backlash. The concept features main roster talent going up against NXT names, giving younger wrestlers a bigger platform.
The format also includes a fan-driven element. Viewers will vote for the John Cena Classic Champion, meaning a wrestler could lose their match and still walk away as the night’s winner through the fan vote. Cena described the concept as something of a WWE “All-Star Game.”
The December 12 date would place the special nearly one year after Cena’s retirement. His final match took place on December 13, 2025, when he lost to Gunther on Saturday Night’s Main Event.
For now, WWE has two projects tied to the same Saturday in December, but only Wrestlepalooza: Perth has been officially announced with a confirmed venue.