Backstage Update on Chris Jericho Possibly Returning to WWE, Time Remaining on His AEW Contract

– Fightful Select has a backstage update on AEW star and former World Champion Chris Jericho, with recent rumors of his contract due to expire in December 2025. It’s also been rumored that there’s “lots of talk” within WWE recently about Jericho.

Jericho last appeared on AEW programming in April after walking away from The Learning Tree and losing the ROH World Title to Bandido. This week, Jericho liked a post on Instagram indicating that he should go back to WWE, leading to buzz and speculation on Jericho making a possible WWE return.

Fightful reports that WWE sources have pumped the breaks on the Jericho return talk, noting that Jericho is still signed through 2025, and that he still has months left on his earlier deal. According to an earlier report by Variety, the contract Jericho was announced as signing in October 2022 takes him through December 2025.

Fightful also reports that they haven’t heard about any creative plans for Jericho in AEW recently, and that Jericho usually speaks to Tony Khan directly regarding his storylines. It’s unknown how Jericho’s recent time off works, if it involves a contract freeze, or how his AEW return might be handled. Also, former Learning Tree members Big Bill and Bryan Keith are no longer listed as members of the stable on the AEW website.

Additionally, WWE sources informed Fightful that Jericho’s name hasn’t come up at all in creative talks. If there have been talks about Jericho within WWE, it’s said that it hasn’t happened within the creative department. That said, it’s said there are talents in WWE speculating about him making a potential WWE return. Fightful reports that WWE higher-ups said that Jericho remains on good terms with the WWE. It’s also said that one source in WWE called the situation far too early to tell as WWE is unsure of Jericho’s status in the coming months.

Chris Jericho has been a part of AEW since the company began, headlining the first AEW event, Double or Nothing, in May 2025. He also became the inaugural AEW World Champion.