Ex-AEW World Champion Told To Retire Amid WWE Comeback Rumors

A former AEW Champion should call the curtain on their wrestling career, according to a veteran manager.

During a recent episode of Story Time with Dutch Mantell, the 76-year-old discussed the potential in-ring return of Chris Jericho.

Jericho last competed at AEW Dynasty in April 2025, where he lost the Ring of Honor World Championship to Bandido in a Title vs. Mask match.

In the following Dynamite episode, he lashed out at his ‘The Learning Tree’ stablemates, Big Bill and Bryan Keith, for not aiding him. He then said that he was “leaving” until they were ready to change.

It has been ten months since, and Jericho has yet to step inside the squared circle. While his AEW contract expired on December 31, he is still listed on the company’s website as an active talent.

Dutch Mantell believes that Chris Jericho may be past his prime at the age of 55.

Mantell opined when he was asked how much time the ex-WWE Champion should be given before someone tells him to retire.

I think it’s past. I really do. When a guy hits that mid-40 mark, I mean, that clock ticks faster. [1:05:00 onwards]

AEW’s Chris Jericho Rumored To Return To WWE

Neither Chris Jericho nor WWE has given an official word about his return to WWE from AEW.

The rumors began around August last year when Jericho liked a social media post about him returning to the Stamford promotion.

At the turn of the new year, he was speculated to make an appearance on WWE Raw’s first Netflix anniversary on January 5.

When that did not happen, reports claimed that he might be one of the surprise entrants in the men’s Royal Rumble, which did not come to pass either.

Elsewhere, during a recent episode of the Grilling JR podcast, the veteran commentator claimed that Y2J might want to retiire in WWE.