Charlotte Flair has officially joined the upcoming John Cena Classic tournament following a heartfelt segment on this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, according to Yahoo Sports.
The tournament, which is scheduled to take place in one month, features a collection of talent that John Cena has personally scouted across several WWE brands.
Cena has spent recent weeks extending invitations to various performers, including Cody Rhodes, Noam Dar, Romeo Moreno, Kelani Jordan, and Zilla Fatu, as reported by Last Word on Sports.
During the SmackDown broadcast, Flair expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the event.
She shared a personal story about receiving advice from Cena following WrestleMania 41, noting that he encouraged her to “stop being perfect and own who she is,” as noted by the Yahoo Sports report.
Flair stated that the advice resonated with her and helped her navigate a difficult period in her career.
The 14-time world champion expressed her desire to win the tournament and become the inaugural John Cena Classic Champion.
Cena also took time to praise Flair, suggesting that she is a primary candidate to eventually break his record of 16 world championships.
The veteran performer emphasized that he believes in her potential to carry the legacy of the sport forward, per the recap from Last Word on Sports.
The segment was described as an unscripted and emotional exchange that highlighted the mutual respect between the two stars.
With the tournament field continuing to take shape, officials are preparing for the upcoming event in Orlando.
The recruitment process has been described as a successful effort to assemble the best and brightest talent currently competing in professional wrestling.
Further announcements regarding the tournament participants are expected in the coming weeks as the event date approaches.