Chris Jericho May Retire Before Potential WWE Return

Chris Jericho was rumored to return to WWE after his AEW contract expiry.

Earlier in January, reports claimed that Jericho’s deal with AEW had ended on December 31, 2025, and that he was rumored to return at the Royal Rumble. However, Jericho was a no-show at Rumble.

Then, recently, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful reported that Jericho’s contract with AEW may have been extended, meaning a WWE return may not be happening anytime soon.

“The reason why so many people had expected such a thing, I mean we even had it on our contract updates or last known resources section.

It was the fact that in 2022 after Brawl Out, Chris Jericho, in solidarity with AEW signed an extension that kept him through 2025. Now AEW and pro wrestling companies are not, not at all obliged to, obligated to disclose contract extensions, freezings or anything like that.

So just because there is no word or nobody has reported that the deal has been extended past December 31 doesn’t mean that isn’t so. As of today Chris Jericho is still listed on AEW’s roster page, which is a great indication of if somebody is still with the company,” Sapp said.

Chris Jericho Is To Old To Go To WWE As  Talent, Says Veteran

Reacting to that report, veteran Dutch Mantell shared his thoughts on his Story Time podcast, suggesting that it’s possible Jericho could retire before ever making a return to WWE.

Mantell noted that Jericho is now “an old guy” and may ultimately decide to hang up his wrestling boots altogether before making another WWE run.

He’s an old guy in a young man’s game, is what he is. I don’t care how good he is, and he is great. I’ve seen him do a lot of great stuff, and he hits all the points. But at 55, and if he’s not going back to next year, I would say there is a possibility that he doesn’t even go now as a talent. Let me say that he may not go as a talent. He could go as a part of the creative team, but I don’t think he wants to do that. (From 1:02:01 to 1:02:42)

Make TJR Wrestling your choice for news by clicking here.