Chris Jericho became the center of attention again on Friday after his classic WWE entrance theme was heard outside the LDLC Arena in Lyon just before SmackDown went live. Fans captured the moment on video, and the clip quickly spread online, setting off speculation about his possible WWE comeback.
The timing is significant. Jericho has been off AEW programming since April, and his contract with the promotion is set to expire in December. Within WWE, the belief has grown that his return is only a matter of time, with early 2026 seen as the most likely window.
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The Royal Rumble in Riyadh has emerged as the leading candidate for his re-debut. Speculation increased further when Jericho liked a social media post suggesting his participation in the January event. While Jericho has previously said he would consider a return, PWInsider reported that WWE’s creative team has not yet held concrete discussions regarding his involvement.
AEW, meanwhile, has avoided directly addressing the situation. Company president Tony Khan described Jericho as a “great champion, great man and great leader” before adding, “I would love to have Chris back, if and when the time comes.” AEW commentator Tony Schiavone also revealed that Jericho’s name did not come up during a recent business trip with Khan, reflecting the company’s reserved stance.
According to WrestleVotes Radio, some WWE talent have shown interest in seeing Jericho back in the locker room, as he has maintained close friendships there. Others have expressed a different view. Dutch Mantell said on his podcast that Jericho’s “best days” in the ring were behind him and suggested that he could take on roles outside active competition, such as agent or manager.
For now, the only thing clear is that one entrance theme was enough to reignite a wave of speculation about Jericho’s next move.
Oye que está sonando el tema de Chris Jericho por la megafonía de la arena no me jodas pic.twitter.com/hEEvFBUmeb
— LuigiWrestling (@LuigiWrestling) August 29, 2025
