Chris Jericho returned to AEW after spending most of 2025 on the shelf, and his Winnipeg homecoming might have been long in the works, according to Tony Khan.
The AEW President and CEO appeared on Jonathan Coachman and Vince Russo’s podcast, “Coach and Bro,” where he revealed details behind Jericho’s AEW return.
“I’ve always wanted Chris Jericho to be a part of AEW from the very beginning, and I’m really glad Chris is a part of AEW going forward. He always will be,” Khan told Coachman and Russo. “I can’t say with any certainty. I do know Chris had a choice, and he wanted to be in AEW. He would be the best person to ask. I’ve been in communication with Chris. He definitely told me he wanted to be in AEW, very specifically in Winnipeg that day. We’ve had that circled for a long time, going back to last year, and it was a choice that Chris made, that he’d rather be in AEW than wrestling anywhere else. And I think that’s awesome.
I can’t say for sure, Coach, exactly what his mind was and where he was thinking, but I definitely know he’s always been consistent, that he loves AEW and he wants to be here, and I’m glad he’s in AEW because that’s a choice he made because he was a free agent.”
Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp reported that Jericho’s contract was frozen due to his inactivity and that he is believed to have signed a new deal with AEW. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reported that WWE did want him for a retirement tour, but it is not known what led Jericho to choose to stay in AEW.
Jericho is scheduled to appear on the April 8 edition of Dynamite at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
