Chris Jericho AEW Return: What We Know About His Comeback, WWE Rumors and What Happens Next

Chris Jericho is back in AEW — and his return came after months of rumors linking him to WWE, speculation about his contract, and questions about what his next move would be.

Jericho returned on the April 1 AEW show in Winnipeg, his hometown, ending speculation that he might jump to WWE after the company filed a trademark for the phrase “Cornerstone.” That trademark led to talk that Jericho could debut there with a new persona, but now it looks like “Cornerstone” will instead be tied to his AEW character going forward.

Jericho had been away from wrestling since losing the ROH Championship to Bandido at the Dynasty pay-per-view in Philadelphia on April 6. His title loss happened around the same time talks were ongoing about Ring of Honor potentially landing a television deal within the Warner Bros. Discovery family on networks like TBS or TruTV.

Tony Khan had acknowledged those talks publicly, and Jericho becoming ROH champion was tied to the timing of those negotiations. After dropping the title, Jericho stepped away to work on acting projects and was expected to return a few months later.

As time went on, rumors about Jericho leaving AEW started picking up steam. There were strong expectations in some circles that Jericho could appear in WWE as a surprise Royal Rumble entrant. That didn’t happen, but WWE television added fuel to the speculation.

Adam Pearce used the phrase “Break the Walls Down” during promotion for the January 6 episode of Raw at Barclays Center in New York. That line led to loud “Y2J” chants from fans in attendance and kept rumors alive that Jericho was WWE-bound.

Behind the scenes, Jericho’s contract situation became a major talking point. His deal was believed to expire at the end of 2025, which opened the door for talks with WWE. However, Tony Khan reportedly extended Jericho’s contract to account for time he missed due to acting work and other commitments.

At one point, WWE interest was believed to be focused on bringing Jericho in for a retirement tour. There had also been talk that 2026 could feature multiple retirement-focused storylines across wrestling, with names like AJ Styles and Brock Lesnar mentioned alongside Jericho. Still, many believed Jericho wasn’t ready to retire, which made that idea less appealing.

Just days before his return, rumors connected Jericho to both WWE and AEW at the same time. WWE sources indicated that Jericho would not be joining the company any time soon — and possibly never.

Once AEW scheduled a show in Winnipeg, the location made his return feel almost certain. Warner Bros. Discovery personnel were told ahead of time that Jericho would be appearing on the show. Even so, the return was kept quiet enough that it didn’t significantly boost ticket sales beforehand.

Jericho made his comeback during the opening segment of the show. Tony Schiavone was in the ring hosting a contract signing between MJF and Kenny Omega for their Dynasty title match when pyro went off — and then Jericho’s “Judas” music hit. The crowd reaction was loud.

Jericho was cheered heavily and did not receive the boos that had followed him during recent months when crowds turned against him as a babyface. While the hometown reaction was strong, it wasn’t overwhelming — but it was still bigger than the reactions for several other major stars on the show.

Even Kenny Omega, who is also from Winnipeg and was positioned as the top babyface challenger for the next pay-per-view, received a smaller reaction than Jericho. Will Ospreay and other babyfaces on the show also received smaller reactions compared to Jericho’s entrance. Once in the ring, Jericho leaned into the moment.

He played to the crowd, encouraged fans to sing along to “Judas,” and showed off a noticeably improved look. He appeared in strong physical shape and looked younger than when he last appeared, which stood out considering his age.

During the segment, cameras showed Jericho’s father, Ted Irvine — a former NHL player for the Winnipeg Jets and New York Rangers — sitting in the crowd. After playing to the hometown crowd and soaking in the reaction, Jericho delivered a short message to fans before leaving the rin

“Winnipeg, AEW, I’m home.”

After saying those words, Jericho left the ring and greeted several family members and friends sitting in the front row before heading backstage. Jericho arrived at the arena just minutes before the show went live. While rumors about his return had been circulating on social media earlier that day, the information wasn’t widespread enough to impact ticket sales — suggesting AEW wanted to preserve the surprise element.

Now that he’s back, there are still more questions than answers about what comes next. Many believe that any potential WWE move is now off the table, at least for the foreseeable future. Instead, the expectation is that Jericho will remain with AEW long-term.

Exactly what role he’ll play — and how fans outside of Canada respond to him — should become clearer once AEW returns to cities outside his hometown. There were also strong internal debates about whether WWE or AEW would have been the better fit for Jericho. WWE offers the bigger global platform, which likely would have delivered stronger crowd reactions. But if the company only wanted him for a retirement tour, that may not have matched Jericho’s current plans.

Money also played a role in the situation. While WWE salaries can be massive at the top level, several AEW stars have reportedly accepted larger financial offers than WWE alternatives. Wrestlers like Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, Mercedes Mone, Gabe Kidd, and David Finlay were all said to have taken AEW deals that paid more than what WWE offered.

Other talents — like Jade Cargill or Blake Monroe — chose WWE due to the spotlight and long-term career goals such as Hollywood opportunities. Some, like Stephanie Vaquer and Penta, were also driven by personal goals tied to WWE being a childhood dream.

For Jericho, the decision ultimately led him back to AEW — at least for now. His return answered the biggest question about where he would land, but it also created new ones about how fans will respond once the hometown effect fades and what the “Cornerstone” persona will actually become.

With Jericho now officially back and WWE rumors fading, the next phase of his career is already underway. Do you think Chris Jericho staying in AEW was the right move, or would a WWE return have created a bigger moment for his career at this stage?