WWE is reportedly considering December 12 and December 19 as possible dates for the John Cena Classic.
According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, one option is to hold the tournament in the United States on the night of December 12, after Wrestlepalooza in Perth, Australia. The other is a standalone John Cena Classic a week later, on December 19. The report said running the tournament as part of Wrestlepalooza itself is not among the options.
A WWE source also said a December 5 date is unlikely. The company reportedly doesn’t want to hold major events on three consecutive weekends.
Survivor Series: WarGames is set for November 28 in Houston, and Wrestlepalooza is scheduled for December 12 at RAC Arena. An event on the Saturday between those two dates would complete the stretch WWE reportedly wants to avoid.
WWE will hold SmackDown in Perth on December 11 and Raw on December 14, with Wrestlepalooza in between.
Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter had already pointed to December 12 as the expected date for the John Cena Classic. The new report from WrestleVotes keeps that date in play and adds December 19 as an alternative.
The problem with the December 19 option is other promotions’ schedules. AEW will hold Worlds End at Target Center in Minneapolis, and AAA will run Guerra de Titanes at Arena Guadalajara in Mexico.
Picking December 19 would put the John Cena Classic head-to-head with Worlds End and also split fans’ attention with Guerra de Titanes.
Given those conflicts, December 12 currently appears to be the better option.