AEW president Tony Khan has spoken publicly for the first time about speculation linking Chris Jericho to a WWE return. During a media call for ROH Death Before Dishonor on August 29, Khan confirmed that Jericho remains under contract with AEW until the end of 2025 and emphasized the company’s respect for him.
If and when the time presents itself, I’d love to have him back. He’s always held in the highest regard in AEW or ROH.
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His current agreement, signed in October 2022, also includes responsibilities as a producer and creative advisor.
Jericho has not appeared on AEW programming since April. His absence was partly intended to ease negative crowd reactions and also to allow him to tour with his band, Fozzy. That hiatus, combined with his silence on television, has fueled ongoing speculation about a surprise return to WWE, with the Royal Rumble in early 2026 frequently cited as a possible stage.
Sources within both AEW and WWE told reporters that such a scenario is being discussed, though WWE insiders cautioned it is “too early to say” whether an agreement will be finalized. WWE added to the speculation by uploading Jericho’s past matches with Roman Reigns and John Cena to its official YouTube channel earlier this month. Jericho himself added intrigue when he liked an Instagram post suggesting a WWE comeback.
The uncertainty comes as Jericho’s long tenure in AEW approaches a key crossroads. Since joining in 2019, he has been central to the company’s launch and early growth, holding the inaugural AEW World Championship and later working behind the scenes in creative.
Industry veteran Teddy Long recently weighed in, stating that a performer of Jericho’s stature “cannot be buried,” underscoring the belief that his reputation within wrestling remains intact regardless of his current position.
For now, Jericho’s immediate future remains with AEW, though the conversation around what comes after his contract runs out at the end of 2025 shows no signs of slowing down.
