Chris Jericho Pegged for WWE Return on Raw After Numerous Reports Confirm His AEW Exit

Chris Jericho is closing in on his impending WWE return, with his AEW contract set to expire on December 31.

Chris Jericho Pegged for WWE Return on Raw After Numerous Reports Confirm His AEW Exit

Chris Jericho [via- Cageside Seats]

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As first reported by Alex McCarthy of Wrestling Intel, Chris Jericho‘s AEW contract will expire at the stroke of midnight on December 31. Which, in turn, means that the 55-year-old will become a free agent by New Year’s Day, January 1.

McCarthy added in his report that ‘Y2J’ is expected to sign with WWE with immediate effect once he’s legally able to do so. The most interesting aspect of the aforementioned story is the claim that WWE is considering Jericho back on its programming as early as the first anniversary of Raw on Netflix in Brooklyn, NY, dated January 5.

It would be a perfect place for Jericho to make his long-awaited WWE return, as he’s a New Yorker himself. However, for that to happen, the veteran star would need to sign within a matter of days.

Shortly after these details caused a stir online, Jon Alba of Sports Illustrated independently confirmed McCarthy’s original reporting about the inaugural AEW Champion. The Takedown on SI noted that several higher-ups in All Elite Wrestling are under the impression that Chris Jericho has finished up with their company and will inevitably go back to WWE.

After Alba and McCarthy, Dave Meltzer has further corroborated what has been said in regard to The Lionheart’s wrestling future. In the Daily Update section of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Meltzer wrote that Jericho’s AEW deal is indeed up this Wednesday, and the majority are expecting him to show up in WWE in the month of January.

Meltzer affirmed that even though it’s been rumored for months, he didn’t have the impression of Jericho being WWE-bound with 100% certainty. If the 9-time WWE Intercontinental Champion does end up returning to WWE television on the 1/5 edition of Raw at the Barclays Center, it’d mark his first in-person appearance in WWE since partaking in the 50-man Royal Rumble match at the Greatest Royal Rumble Ever in Saudi Arabia in April 2018.

When could Chris Jericho make his in-ring return for WWE?

Chris Jericho hasn’t wrestled since losing the ROH world title to Bandido at AEW Dynasty back in April 2025. While there was hope within AEW circles that the Fozzy lead vocalist would eventually wrestle for the Jacksonville-based promotion again, it just wasn’t to be. And speaking of when the fans could see him compete again, it might not happen until the Royal Rumble PLE in Saudi Arabia on January 31, 2026.

Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho [via- TPWW]

Taking into account that Jericho is in his mid-50s, WWE is expected to be meticulous in terms of booking him into throwaway matches at this stage of his career. While it’s not reported by any media outlet, based on the general understanding of how WWE has previously handled the veterans of the game, especially under the Triple H regime, Chris Jericho, out of everyone, could be used as a special attraction on shows.

He might make weekly appearances on the brand he ends up joining, albeit his in-ring duties would be mapped out strategically. Making him compete in the 30-man Royal Rumble match wouldn’t only help him in getting acclimatized with the current WWE landscape, but it’d open the floodgates for numerous superstar faceoffs.

And who knows if that’s how Jericho would scout his WrestleMania 42 opponent? Based on the impression that the former Learning Tree leader would definitely have a match at WrestleMania in Las Vegas, it’d be his first time competing at the tentpole WWE event since 2017. His previous Mania bout resulted in an Intercontinental title loss to Kevin Owens in a match that went second on the main card.

Jericho would later reveal in interviews that he was originally slated to wrestle Owens in the main event for the Universal title until Vince McMahon scrapped those plans upon the behest of Brock Lesnar, who allegedly wanted the now-retired world title involved in his rematch with Goldberg. That incident upset Chris Jericho to a point where he decided to quit WWE.

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