Wrestling legend Chris Jericho made a surprise return to AEW on the most recent episode of Dynamite, which took place in his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. His appearance was kept a secret prior to the broadcast, despite months of speculation about a possible move to WWE.
According to Dave Meltzer in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Jericho is likely back with AEW for the long term, and any potential return to WWE is currently “dead.” Meltzer noted that WWE's interest in Jericho was limited to a retirement tour and farewell. At one point, WWE was reportedly planning for 2026 around retirements for stars like AJ Styles and Brock Lesnar, with Jericho considered a suitable addition to that lineup.
While there were brief on-screen teases involving Adam Pearce and CM Punk that hinted at a Jericho return, nothing came of them. Despite speculations linking Jericho to both companies as recently as last week, a source in WWE told the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Jericho would not be joining anytime soon, possibly even never.
Jericho's AEW return was reportedly communicated to Warner Bros. Discovery shortly before Dynamite aired, and he arrived just minutes before the show began. Though some online discussions surfaced ahead of the event, they had little impact on ticket sales. Jericho’s contract reportedly expired at the end of 2025, but AEW President Tony Khan extended it to account for the time Jericho missed for various reasons.
At this time, there has been no official announcement regarding Jericho’s next storyline direction. The details about his role following the return remain unclear, with no confirmed matches beyond the initial appearance.
