Chris Jericho appears to be contractually bound to AEW.
Fightful reports that the talent’s contract is believed to have been frozen after taking time off last year. The site notes that Jericho is “firmly under contract,” and reporter Sean Ross Sapp is told the belief from those around Jericho and AEW is that his deal was frozen.
Variety reported in October 2022 that Jericho signed a three-year contract extension with AEW, which would include “increased responsibilities behind the scenes in AEW and will now serve as a producer and creative advisor” and kept him with the company “through December 2025”.
When the calendar changed to 2026, Jericho’s profile remained on the AEW roster and continues to be listed.
The expectation of Jericho returning to WWE has been fueled by speculation of his contract status, a comment by Adam Pearce before the January 5 episode of Raw referring to “breaking the walls down”, and the mystery crate introduced on this week’s episode of Raw.
Jericho was signed by AEW in January 2019, among its first batch of talent, and became the first person to hold the AEW World Championship in August 2019. Jericho last appeared on AEW programming last April at Dynasty when he lost the ROH Championship to Bandido.
Jericho last wrestled for the WWE in April 2018 in the 50-man battle royal at the Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia.
