Dave Meltzer Believes Report of AEW Freezing Chris Jericho’s Contract Is True

As previously reported, word surfaced earlier this week that AEW has frozen the contract of wrestler and former AEW World Champion Chris Jericho. Dave Meltzer commented on the development on today’s edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, noting that he’s heard similar things about Jericho’s contract, believing the news to likely be legitimate.

According to the initial report by Fightful Select, Jericho’s AEW contract was frozen, and it’s believed his deal was frozen when he took time off from AEW programming. Meltzer indicated that he’s also “heard things along those lines,” noting that Jericho’s contract being frozen is likely what happened.

Meltzer indicated that AEW was able to freeze Jericho’s contract and add more time due to the wrestler taking time off at different times during his latest deal. He stated on Jericho, “He had taken long periods off at different times during this last deal, so I knew that they had the right to freeze the contract and tack on more time. I didn’t know that they did it.”

Meltzer noted that sources he’s reached out to have been “silent” on the issue, and nobody would deny to him that Fightful’s report was untrue. He continued, “Obviously, I asked everyone, and silence is silence. I would be 95%, if not more, sure that if that report was untrue, I would know it was untrue very quickly. So, therefore, I will go with the idea that it’s true because nobody told me it was untrue.”

Meltzer added on Chris Jericho, “So that probably holds off Jericho going to WWE for a period of time, but eventually, he’ll have the right to go, or maybe they can work something out. I don’t know.”

Dave Meltzer Believes WWE’s Fanbase Would Be More Accepting of Chris Jericho

Meltzer also expressed his belief in Jericho’s mindset, “I don’t think him going back for the Hall of Fame thing is really that big of a deal to him, like it would be for others. I don’t think he’s against it or anything. I think that, yeah, he would do it, but I think that had everything remained the way it was a couple of years ago, that he would’ve stayed in AEW until the end, and then, been like a brand ambassador for AEW afterwards or whatever. I think it would’ve happened.”

Meltzer explained his belief that it’s probably better for Jericho’s career at this point to return to WWE and be in a place where the fan base is more accepting of him, noting he’s recently been rejected by the AEW fanbase. He went on, “It’s just better for his career at this point to be in a place with a fan base that’s more willing to accept him.”

Meanwhile, Fightful’s earlier report stated that sources close to Jericho have been quiet about his in-ring future. Additionally, Jericho has reportedly told people he would be open to a WWE return, but the former AEW and WWE World Champion is concerned he may have to give up his remaining outside projects while he was there.

So, Jericho’s AEW contract status likely rules him out as the person in the crate appearing on WWE TV. At the moment, Chris Jericho is still listed as part of the official AEW roster.

If using any of the above quotes, please credit Wrestling Observer Radio with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.