Blake Monroe and Lyra Valkyria have both publicly expressed interest in competing in the John Cena Classic. John Cena announced the event at WWE Backlash — a tournament where main roster and NXT talent meet in one-on-one matches with fans voting to determine an overall winner.
Monroe, who recently transitioned from NXT to SmackDown, spoke with Marca. “Of course I want to be part of it. It looks like it will be a huge tournament and obviously you need to head it with a huge name like the glamorous Blake Monroe.” She named Tatum Paxley as a potential opponent, noting “unfinished business after she put me in a casket.”
Valkyria, speaking with Soundsphere, pointed to the opportunity the event creates for NXT talent. “With all the talent in NXT, I feel like it just could be anyone’s chance to really make themselves the next big thing,” she said. She named Kelani Jordan as a dream opponent — someone she crossed paths with at the Performance Center but never faced on TV.
