Rumors about Chris Jericho’s next career move have been swirling since mid-year when Jericho liked an Instagram post hinting at a possible WWE comeback after his AEW contract ends. Reports suggest that several AEW insiders anticipated Jericho would return to WWE to conclude his wrestling career. With his AEW contract set to expire on December 31st, this return now seems very likely.
According to Alex McCarthy from Wrestling Intel, Jericho’s deal with All Elite Wrestling ends at midnight on New Year’s Eve, and the 55-year-old wrestler is expected to sign with WWE soon afterward. If all goes smoothly, WWE is reportedly considering having Jericho appear on the January 5th episode of “WWE Raw,” marking the show’s one-year anniversary on Netflix. This episode will be broadcast from Brooklyn, New York.
SI Takedown backed up some of these reports, noting that multiple AEW executives believe Jericho will depart AEW soon and head back to WWE, where he originally debuted in 1999. In a YouTube livestream on December 27, Jericho teased fans who wanted him back in WWE with the cryptic message, “You never know. You never know.”
WWE reportedly has plans for Jericho to engage in a retirement storyline once he officially signs with the company in 2026, though specifics about the duration and details of his run remain undisclosed.
Fan Take: This potential return of Chris Jericho to WWE is hugely significant for fans, as Jericho is a legendary figure whose presence can elevate any storyline. His comeback could bring fresh excitement and meaningful narratives to WWE programming while giving fans a memorable finish to his storied in-ring career.
