Summary

Lexis King says he was the one who first suggested the idea that became the John Cena Classic.

The claim came shortly after John Cena used WWE Backlash to announce the new tournament, which will feature NXT wrestlers facing main roster talent. Cena also revealed that the tournament will include a new Cena Classic Championship.

That announcement has already become one of the bigger talking points coming out of the show, especially after Cena explained why he is willing to risk failure with the John Cena Classic.

Social media

King posted on social media that he had several conversations with Cena at the WWE Performance Center over the last couple of years and said he was the person who suggested naming the tournament the John Cena Classic.

His post arrived one day after Cena announced the John Cena Classic and the new title at WWE Backlash, adding another layer to the rollout of the concept.

What Lexis King's claim means for the John Cena Classic

Lexis King's post keeps the John Cena Classic tied closely to NXT, which matters because the tournament is built around NXT talent stepping in with the main roster. Even if Cena remains the public face of the idea, King's involvement gives WWE another way to connect the project back to the Performance Center system.

It also shows that the tournament announcement is becoming an ongoing story instead of a one-night reveal. With Cena already addressing the reaction to the concept, WWE now has more attention on how the John Cena Classic will be presented once the field and format are finalized.

Sources

Lexis King via X