Backstage Update on Chris Jericho’s Potential WWE Return & AEW Contract Status

Chris Jericho’s contract with AEW is believed to have expired at the end of 2025 and he has been absent from the company since this past April. Jericho has been rumored to be returning to WWE for tonight’s RAW Netflix anniversary show in Brooklyn, New York and WWE had recently teased his potential return appearance on the show.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that he has not heard from any of his sources within WWE who currently believes that Jericho will be making his return appearance at tonight’s WWE RAW show.

Johnson reported that Jericho is still currently listed on AEW’s official roster page on their website unlike other talents who recently had their contracts expire and had their profiles removed.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reported that reports attributed to Fightful claming that Jericho was scheduled to appear on tonight’s show or that he had left AEW are not true since they never reported that.

Sapp reported that AEW personnel had recently received internal memos mentioning that the contracts of Mercedes Martinez, Matt Taven, and Alex Abrahantes had expired but no similar memo was issued regarding Jericho’s contract status.

Those spoken to familiar within AEW reportedly stated that the company still maintained a positive relationship with Jericho and also acknowleded that some fans had grown fatigued with his frequent on-screen presence. Sapp reported that this feedback played a role in his removal from weekly AEW television and was not an indication of any confirmed contractual change.

Those spoken to within WWE reportedly stated that Jericho’s name had not been discussed recently for creative plans nor was he included in the plans for tonight’s RAW show based on what they had seen. One source spoken to reportedly stated that surprises can happen but Jericho had not been spotted at the venue as of call time for talent backstage.

In regards to WWE RAW GM Adam Pearce teasing Jericho’s appearance on tonight’s show, the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer reported in Sunday’s Daily Update that his sources have not confirmed if Jericho will actually be at the show. Meltzer reported that this was likely just WWE trying to generate extra buzz for more ticket sales since they want a big walk-up for the show. Meltzer also reported that Jericho is still expected to be returning to WWE soon and if not on tonight’s show, then by the end of the month for this year’s Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia.