Ethan Page has publicly questioned the format of WWE’s upcoming John Cena Classic tournament, criticizing the idea of competing for a prize bearing another wrestler’s name and branding. The tournament is set to take place at Disney World in December, with Cody Rhodes, Kelani Jordan, Zilla Fatu, and Noam Dar already confirmed among the participants.
Speaking with The Masked Man Show, Page made clear he is not particularly eager to land a spot in the tournament given how the reward is structured. “I’m not in a hurry to be awarded merch with another man’s name on it,” Page said of the format, signaling a reluctance to chase a prize tied so directly to Cena’s own branding rather than a traditional title or standalone accolade.
Page’s comments add a dissenting voice to a tournament that WWE has otherwise positioned as a showcase event, drawing in a mix of established main-event talent in Cody Rhodes and rising stars such as Kelani Jordan, Zilla Fatu, and Noam Dar. The disparity in profile among the confirmed entrants has already drawn attention, and Page’s remarks suggest some talent may view the concept, and its merchandise-based prize, as less prestigious than a conventional tournament trophy or title opportunity.
Multi-Person Match Proposal
Separately, Fightful Select reported that WWE internally discussed the possibility of incorporating multi-person matches into the John Cena Classic bracket. According to that report, the idea was pitched as a way to involve more talent in the tournament without simply expanding the field through additional one-on-one rounds. It remains unclear how far the proposal advanced internally, and WWE has not confirmed whether the final card will feature Triple Threat matches, Fatal 4-Way matches, or a similar format.
With the event still weeks away, WWE has yet to reveal the full bracket, match structure, or complete list of participants for the John Cena Classic. The confirmed names so far, Cody Rhodes, Kelani Jordan, Zilla Fatu, and Noam Dar, represent a cross-section of the roster, and further announcements are expected as the December date at Disney World approaches. Whether the promotion settles on a traditional single-elimination format or incorporates the multi-person matches reportedly discussed internally could shape how talent like Page ultimately view their path into, or interest in, the tournament.
