Charlotte Flair Finally Gets Her John Cena Moment After 10 Years On WWE Smackdown

Charlotte Flair promises to win the John Cena Classic after joining the tournament.© NDTV Library

Charlotte Flair is the newest name in the John Cena Classic, and Cena invited her himself in opening segment of the November 13 episode of WWE SmackDown. It got personal pretty quickly. The 14-time women's champion talked about how long she had hoped to share a story with Cena, and about advice he gave her during a difficult period in her career. She thanked him for believing in her, then said straight out that she plans to win. Cena answered with a prediction of his own, saying he had long pictured Flair as the wrestler who could reach 18 world titles someday.

THE QUEEN!! ???? @JohnCena has ALWAYS believed @MsCharlotteWWE was the one! https://t.co/OaBiB9q4Va

— WWE (@WWE) November 14, 2026

Charlotte Flair recalled the advice Cena gave her when she was unsure about her WWE future

Flair said she had spent ten years trying to work opposite Cena. Whether she would ever break the championship records held by her father, Ric Flair, or Cena was something she didn't know, but being part of Cena's legacy meant a lot to her.

Then came the rough stretch. Cena asked her what had happened to her, and Flair said she had no answer. His advice was direct: “Stop being perfect and own who you are.”

Flair credited that conversation with helping her rediscover her passion. And she wasn't there just to take part in a tribute. “I'm going to win the John Cena Classic,” she said. Cena later told her, “You never had it easy, you just made it look easy.”

John Cena Classic is set for December 14 with WWE and NXT names in the field

Cena has been inviting talent across WWE's brands during recent Raw and NXT appearances. Cody Rhodes, Noam Dar, Romeo Moreno, Zilla Fatu and NXT Women's Champion Kelani Jordan had already got their invitations, and Flair now joins them in the field.

The event is set for December 14 at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. WWE has said NXT stars will get chance to make their Raw in-ring debuts as part of it.

The Classic will crown inaugural men's and women's champions, and fan voting helps decide the winners.

Cena also talked about Flair reaching 18 world titles. He was chasing his record-breaking 17th championship, he said, when conversations had already turned to who might become the first to win 18.

In his mind, it was always Flair. The Classic itself is set for December 14 in Orlando.