WWE is still working out when the John Cena Classic will take place, but a report from WrestleVotes has narrowed down the options.

John Cena has said the event will take place in December. “In December, I’m really excited about announcing the John Cena Classic,” Cena said during an appearance on the TODAY show in October.

According to WrestleVotes, a source was unsure whether the event is more likely to follow Wrestlepalooza on December 12 with a stateside event that evening or take place the following weekend on December 19. Wrestlepalooza is set for Perth, Australia, on December 12. A December 19 date would put the John Cena Classic up against AEW Worlds End, as well as AAA Guerra de Titanes later that same evening.

One WWE source said Saturday, December 5, is not likely to be an option, since the company does not want to present major events on three consecutive weekends. December 26 is also already taken, as WWE is set to hold its annual holiday show at Madison Square Garden.

A source also noted that the voting aspect of the event is still something Cena would like to see happen, and several ideas have reportedly been floated internally to make that possible. Cena has described the John Cena Classic as an event where the audience decides the winner.

Cena has previously named former NXT talents Oba Femi, Je’Von Evans and Sol Ruca as examples of the type of talent he wants to showcase. With WWE also owning AAA, there is room to bring in talent from Mexico as well. Here are five matches between WWE and NXT or AAA talent that could happen at the 2026 John Cena Classic.

Oba Femi vs. Grayson Waller

Oba Femi is one of the names Cena specifically mentioned, and he would be a natural centerpiece for the event. The former NXT Champion is now on Raw, where he turned down an offer from Paul Heyman.

Grayson Waller won the NXT Championship in a Fatal Four-Way at NXT Heatwave on August 30. A match between the two would put the current NXT Champion against a former one, and Waller’s talking ability would make him a strong heel for a crowd that gets to vote.

Je’Von Evans vs. Zilla Fatu

Je’Von Evans has moved to Raw and was part of the gauntlet match on July 13 that decided the number one contender to the Intercontinental Championship. His high-flying style would contrast well with Zilla Fatu, the son of Umaga, who was part of the NXT Championship fatal four-way at Heatwave.

This is the kind of matchup the event is built for. Both are young stars; it would be a fresh pairing, and a fan vote could reward either one depending on how the match plays out.

Sol Ruca vs. Kelani Jordan

Sol Ruca is another wrestler Cena named, and she has already held the Women’s Intercontinental Championship on Raw. Kelani Jordan won the NXT Women’s Championship at Heatwave, giving NXT a strong representative in the women’s division.

Ruca and Jordan both rose through NXT around the same time, and a match between a former Women’s Intercontinental Champion and the current NXT Women’s Champion would give the event a clear women’s highlight.

Roxanne Perez vs. Lady Shani

Roxanne Perez has become a key part of The Judgment Day on Raw, where she has made it clear she wants a shot at the WWE Women’s Championship. She has also gone after gold in AAA, challenging La Catalina for the Reina de Reinas Championship at Worlds Collide in September. Lady Shani is a two-time AAA Reina de Reinas Champion and has been with AAA since 2012.

Wren Sinclair already dressed up as Lady Shani on NXT to win a battle royal on October 6, which gives this match a ready-made link to WWE programming. Perez has already shown she wants AAA gold, and a match with a two-time Reina de Reinas Champion would give the former NXT Women’s Champion another chance to prove herself in that division.

Rey Mysterio vs. Mr. Iguana

Rey Mysterio is not an up-and-coming star, but WrestleVotes reported a feeling within WWE that he will help develop the next generation of talent in WWE and AAA once his in-ring career ends. A match with Mr. Iguana, one of AAA’s most popular acts, would fit that role.

Mr. Iguana challenged La Parka for the AAA Latin American Championship on the October 3 episode of AAA on FOX. His popularity with fans would make him a strong candidate in an event decided by a fan vote, and sharing the ring with Mysterio would introduce him to a wider audience.