John Cena admitted the WWE John Cena Classic “might be a total failure,” but said the event is “authentically me” and reflects his values of being authentic, fearless, and knowing your purpose.
Cena explained that with his in-ring career now over, his goal is “to consistently be as useful as possible” by creating “a launchpad of opportunity for all talent” and a unique experience for WWE fans.
When asked to give advice, especially with WWE, I often reply
‘be authentic’
‘do not fear failure’
‘know your why.’
The John Cena Classic may not be perfect by any means yet it’s authentically me (I am not perfect either) and reflects my values and beliefs.
I’m aware that there is the risk it might be a total failure and I’m not afraid of that and believe it’s still worth stepping ‘in the arena.’
My ‘why’ in WWE is to consistently be as useful as possible for as long as possible, with my in ring career at an end, my ‘why’ is to use whatever energy or relevance I have left in hopes to create a launchpad of opportunity for all talent to show their skills while simultaneously creating a unique experience for our dedicated fan base.
At the very least.. we all learn something
At the very best.. we all create something
I’m ready for wherever the road takes us.
Thank you WWE for this opportunity
More details to come as we figure all this out!
Sincerely,
John Cena
.@JohnCena just announced the John Cena Classic! 👏
Stream WWE Backlash LIVE RIGHT NOW on the @espn App with ESPN Unlimited!
— WWE (@WWE) May 10, 2026