WWE Personality Was Surprised By Chris Jericho’s Absence From Royal Rumble

Chris Jericho was rumored to make his WWE return at the Royal Rumble on January 31, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. However, he didn’t show up.

Earlier this year, reports suggested that Jericho’s contract with AEW had expired on December 31, 2025, making him a free agent. This fueled speculation that the WWE legend would show up at the Royal Rumble in Riyadh.

However, it appears that Jericho is still under contract, as he remains listed on AEW’s official roster page. Powerhouse Hobbs, who recently left AEW, has already been removed from the company’s website, indicating that AEW regularly updates its roster listings.

Jericho still being featured suggests that he remains connected to Tony Khan’s All Elite Wrestling and has not officially departed the promotion.

Sam Roberts Was Expecting Chris Jericho To Show Up At Royal Rumble

Speaking about Chris Jericho’s absence from the Royal Rumble, WWE analyst Sam Roberts addressed the situation on an emergency episode of his Notsam Wrestling podcast. Roberts stated that he was surprised Y2J did not appear, a sentiment many fans shared.

Roberts said, “I was surprised we did not see Chris Jericho in the Royal Rumble. “(From 16:51)

With Jericho missing the Royal Rumble, speculation has now shifted toward a possible appearance at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. Despite Jericho still being associated with AEW, there remains a strong belief among fans that The Demo God is WWE-bound and will eventually make his return to the company.

Right now, Chris Jericho seems to be focused more on his non-wrestling projects. His band Fozzy is set to tour the United Kingdom with their “Eyes On You” run from February 6 to February 21, 2026.

On top of that, he’s also involved in the upcoming Apple TV series Margo’s Got Money Troubles, where he’ll appear alongside Nicole Kidman and Nick Offerman.

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