Orlando, Fla. – WWE’s Intercontinental Champion Ethan Page announced he will not participate in the upcoming John Cena Classic tournament, scheduled for Dec. 14 at Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Page, who captured the Intercontinental title earlier this month, explained his decision during an interview with OutKick Dropkick.
Page’s rationale
“I’m the smartest wrestler in the WWE, and it would be foolish to put myself in a situation where, even if I defeat my opponent, I could still lose because fans vote me out,” Page said. He added that the fan‑voting component of the event, which allows the audience to decide the champion via Club WWE, undermines the merit‑based nature of competition.
Page criticized the voting process, describing fans who might vote against him as “pathetic crybabies” who “hide in bathroom stalls” and “surround themselves with like‑minded idiots.” He warned that a wrestler could win a match but still be denied the title if the online poll favored another competitor.
Open to future invitation
Despite his current stance, Page said he would reconsider if the John Cena Classic organizers formally invited him. “I’m happy that people will get the opportunity to have something in their career they can be proud of,” he said. “The only issue is I already do. I am the Intercontinental Champion, and I am not going to rush to get in line for a free watch and a jacket with another man’s name on it, so I can enter a tournament that I will be voted to lose, no matter what.”
He concluded, “If I get invited, we’ll talk about it then and I will reassess my decisions, but at this very moment, that is my clear‑cut stance on the John Cena Classic, and I wish everybody luck.”
Event details
The John Cena Classic is a fan‑voted competition that will crown a champion who receives a specially designed belt bearing Cena’s name. Wrestlers do not need to win their individual matches to win the title; the final decision rests with the voting audience. The tournament will be featured as part of a special double‑episode of “Monday Night Raw,” with the first episode taking place in Australia following WrestlePalooza: Perth.
John Cena has already extended invitations to several wrestlers, including Cody Rhodes, Zilla Fatu, Kelani Jordan, Romeo Moreno, Noam Dar, Charlotte Flair, Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Lainey Reid.
Community reaction
Fans have expressed mixed feelings about the voting format. Some appreciate the interactive element, while others share Page’s concerns that popularity could outweigh in‑ring performance. The debate highlights a broader conversation within wrestling about preserving the sport’s competitive integrity while engaging a digital audience.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
