Major Backstage Update on AEW Status of Chris Jericho, WWE Talks

Is Chris Jericho finally on the cusp of an AEW TV return? Fightful Select has an update on some movement in the career of the AEW star and former AEW World Champion.

As previously reported, AEW is said to have frozen Jericho’s contract when he took time off. Jericho has not been seen on AEW programming in about a year. According to Fightful’s update, sources in AEW have a growing belief that Jericho will soon return, especially due to the nature of Jericho recently trademarking the term “Cornerstone” last month.

Additionally, there’s been a lot of internal chatter that Jericho could be returning to AEW as early as tonight’s edition of Dynamite. Fightful goes on to say that Jericho and AEW have recently been discussing his television return in the last two months.

Fightful also reports that there have “absolutely” been talks between Chris Jericho and WWE in recent months. That said, there have been no creative plans set for him or heard about in WWE, per Fightful. Despite rampant fan speculation earlier in the year, it’s said that WWE never planned for Jericho to appear on the first anniversary of Monday Night Raw on Netflix, a surprise appearance in the Royal Rumble, or Elimination Chamber.

F4WOnline.com’s Dave Meltzer also commented on the matter via social media, writing that he was told a week ago by WWE not to expect him back there “any time soon, if ever.” Meltzer also noted that this started about the same time that he filed for the “Cornerstone” trademark (see below).

Basically, it looks like the “Cornerstone” of wrestling might finally be on his way back to TV. However, it will likely be under the AEW banner and not WWE, as many anticipated late last year.

Regarding Jericho, I was told a week ago from WWE not to expect him in WWE any time soon, if ever, regarding rumors going around of him starting in WWE & AEW, both of which were out at the same time when he filed for the trademark.

— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) April 1, 2026