2026 John Cena Classic: Why WWE Champion Ethan Page Is Out

Ethan Page, WWE's reigning Intercontinental Champion, says he will not enter the John Cena Classic because the tournament's fan-voting system means his in-ring performance would not decide who wins, according to a Nov. 14, 2026, report from OutKick.

The report, bylined by Ryan Gaydos, is built around comments Page gave directly to OutKick on video, in which he lays out why he is skipping a tournament carrying John Cena's name.

What Is the John Cena Classic, and When Is It?

According to OutKick, John Cena's namesake showcase is designed to feature "some of the best WWE has to offer" and gives fans a direct vote in who takes home a championship belt. The event is scheduled for next month, per the report, though OutKick's sourcing does not list a confirmed date or a finalized field of entrants.

What Did Page Tell OutKick on Nov. 14?

Page told OutKick he wants "no part" of the tournament, calling the fan-voting format "silly." He said the structure would leave his talents unrewarded no matter what he did inside the ring, a point OutKick frames as the core of his objection to competing.

Why Does Page Call the Fan Vote 'Silly'?

Page's complaint is not about potential opponents — it is about the voting mechanism itself. Per the report, Page argues that fans would vote against him regardless of how dominant his performance was, meaning the outcome could be decided by sentiment rather than by what happens in the match. That is the distinction Page draws between the Classic's format and a traditional title defense, where winning the match wins the belt.

What Title Does Page Hold Right Now?

Page enters this discussion as WWE's current Intercontinental Champion, a title tied to its own ongoing storyline separate from the Cena-branded event. OutKick's report does not say whether that championship would have been at stake had Page entered the Classic, and it does not indicate he has been asked to defend it there. The only confirmed fact from the sourcing is that Page has declined to take part.

What Happens Next for the Tournament?

OutKick's report stops short of naming a full bracket or a locked-in date, saying only that the event lands "next month." WWE has not issued a separate statement addressed in the sourcing reviewed here, and no rival wrestler is quoted responding to Page's remarks. For now, Page's on-camera explanation to OutKick stands as the only on-record account of a champion turning down a spot in Cena's tournament before the full lineup is set. Readers tracking the bracket should watch for WWE's own announcements, since OutKick's report captures Page's position but not a company response.

Quotags is A quote-card app first shipped in 2013. Version 2.0 is returning soon — do not install an old binary.