Chris Jericho Nearing WWE Return As AEW Contract Expires

Chris Jericho’s absence from AEW television has sparked growing speculation, and a new report suggests a WWE return could be imminent.

Chris Jericho has not appeared on AEW programming for several months, despite being one of the promotion’s most prominent early stars. A former AEW World Champion, Jericho played a major role in the company’s launch and was central to many of its biggest storylines during its early years. His recent absence, combined with social media posts revisiting his WWE past, has only fuelled talk of a potential return to Stamford.

According to recent reports, Jericho’s AEW contract is set to expire at midnight on December 31. With that in mind, speculation has intensified that he could return to WWE as early as January. The possibility gained further traction after The Takedown on SI’s Jon Alba reported that sources believe Jericho is expected to reappear on WWE television in the near future.

Alba wrote that Jericho could be in line for a return as soon as the January 5 edition of Raw, adding that multiple sources believe his comeback is imminent now that his AEW deal is set to expire.

While no official announcement has been made by WWE or Jericho himself, the timing and recent developments have made his potential return one of the most closely watched stories in wrestling heading into the new year.

When Did Chris Jericho Join AEW?

Chris Jericho officially joined All Elite Wrestling in January 2019, becoming one of the promotion’s first major signings ahead of its launch. His arrival was confirmed during AEW’s inaugural press conference in Jacksonville, where he was unveiled as the company’s first major star acquisition.

Jericho went on to play a central role in establishing AEW’s early identity, becoming the promotion’s first-ever World Champion later that year at All Out and serving as one of its most recognisable on-screen figures during its formative years.