AEW Could Lose Top Star to WWE

Backstage talk within WWE regarding a potential return for Chris Jericho is reportedly significant, with his AEW contract expiring later this year.

Recent reports indicate that discussions about a potential return for Chris Jericho are actively taking place within WWE. According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, there is “lots and lots of talk there about Jericho,” with some internal speculation pointing toward a possible appearance at the Royal Rumble. While no official statements have been made, the conversations are considered a significant development.

Amid the growing talk, Jericho posted a previously unseen photo on his social media from a 2002 WWE tour of Asia, featuring himself with The Rock, Lita, and Pat Patterson. In the post, he recalled his work with The Rock during that period, stating, “we tore the house down every night.”

Jericho’s current contract with All Elite Wrestling is set to expire in late 2025. He has been absent from AEW programming since April, an absence he attributed to taking a break. His last storyline involved a split from his Learning Tree faction following a loss for the ROH World Title at Dynasty.

The current situation marks a shift from Jericho’s previous stance. For much of his tenure in AEW, where he was the inaugural World Champion, he had dismissed the idea of a WWE return. However, in recent months he has publicly stated he is now open to the possibility.

Speculation was further fueled last week when fans noticed Jericho had “liked” an Instagram post discussing his expiring AEW contract and his openness to rejoining WWE. This, combined with the latest backstage reports, has intensified discussion about his next career move.

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Topics: WWE