On Raw last night (Nov. 2), we learned that the first-ever John Cena Classic will take place on Mon., Dec. 14 at Orlando, Florida’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Today we learned WWE is taking over that Disney-owned venue for two days in December, and the second day will feature even more corporate synergy between TKO and Disney. In a Tuesday morning press release, the WWE announced a Tues. Dec. 15 World Collide event with NXT and AAA Lucha Libre, and marketing tie-ins to the next Marvel Cinematic
Universe blockbuster, Avengers: Doomsday, in theaters everywhere on Fri., Dec. 18.
Not a ton of detail in that aforementioned press release, but it does point out that, “WWE will produce and sell “Avengers: Doomsday” co-branded products, including title belts, at WWE World, WWEShop.com and across select Disney retail stores”. So if you’re one of those rare people with disposable income these days, be on the lookout for those.
Here’s the full announcement:
WWE & Walt Disney Company expand partnership with two-day takeover of ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex featuring the John Cena Classic & Marvel Studios’ ‘Avengers: Doomsday’-themed Worlds Collide
November 3, 2026 – WWE and The Walt Disney Company today announced an expansion of their partnership with a special two-day takeover of ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 14-15. Headlined by two massive events – The John Cena Classic and a Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Doomsday”-themed Worlds Collide – the collaboration will bring together the companies’ renowned storytelling to create a landmark crossover moment for Disney and WWE fans alike.
As announced yesterday on Monday Night Raw in front of a sold-out Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the first-ever edition of The John Cena Classic will feature WWE’s biggest names across Raw and SmackDown against the brightest future Superstars from NXT, on Monday, Dec. 14. The event will culminate by announcing the top Superstar of the night as decided by the WWE Universe. Members of Club WWE, WWE’s recently launched exclusive fan membership program, will vote in real time for their favorite Superstar performance and award the night’s top honor. Fans can participate in the voting by registering for Club WWE at WWE.com/ClubWWE. The John Cena Classic will stream live on Netflix on Dec. 14 as a special edition of Monday Night Raw.
Ahead of the highly anticipated U.S. theatrical release of “Avengers: Doomsday” on Dec. 18, WWE will produce an “Avengers: Doomsday” edition of Worlds Collide, featuring the biggest Superstars from WWE, NXT and AAA, on Tuesday, Dec. 15.
Surrounding the events, WWE and Fanatics will stage WWE World, a two-day immersive fan event, located at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, giving fans access to exclusive merchandise and photo and autograph opportunities with WWE Superstars. Additionally, WWE will produce and sell “Avengers: Doomsday” co-branded products, including title belts, at WWE World, WWEShop.com and across select Disney retail stores.
Two-day combo tickets will go on sale starting Friday, Nov. 13, at 10 a.m. ET via Ticketmaster.com. General presale for combo tickets will begin Thursday, Nov. 12, at 10 a.m. ET. Fans can register now to be the first to receive general event information by visiting: https://www.wwe.com/CenaClassic.
Additional event and fan experience details will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Walt Disney Company and WWE launched its partnership in 2025 when the ESPN App became the exclusive domestic home of WWE Premium Live Events for ESPN Unlimited subscribers.
Tie-ins like this aren’t new to wrestling, or really anything. We’ll see if it impacts the product at all — and it should already be interesting to see how back-to-back nights of NXT crossover events are booked. As an arch-nerd, I’ll just say that considering some of the source material for this next two-film MCU epic, Worlds Collide is a good name for this crossover.
Any thoughts on the Doomsday edition of Worlds Collide?
