Chris Jericho Becomes Free Agent After AEW Contract Expires

It’s official: as of January 1, 2026, Chris Jericho is no longer under an AEW contract and is now a free agent—clearing the path for what could be one of the biggest WWE returns in recent memory.

After days of mounting speculation, today marks the confirmed expiration of Jericho’s AEW deal, which ended at midnight on December 31, 2025. The news was first hinted at by Sports Illustrated’s Jon Alba, who reported that “Chris Jericho’s AEW contract expires at midnight on Dec. 31” and that “he’s WWE-bound.”

Alba added that multiple sources expect Jericho to “show up on WWE TV very soon,” potentially as early as January 5 on Raw. Now that the contract is officially up, all eyes are on WWE.

The timing of this free agency move couldn’t be more strategic. Jericho hasn’t appeared on AEW programming since April 2025, when he walked out on Big Bill and Bryan Keith in a segment that ended with a rare on-air expression of disappointment. Since then, he’s been absent from AEW creative discussions and seemingly distanced himself from the company altogether—culminating in his decision to livestream on YouTube during AEW’s Worlds End event instead of attending or participating in it.

When asked about a possible WWE return during his Christmas Dinner with The Winnipeggers livestream, Jericho kept things vague but telling, saying:
“You never know. You never know.” With his AEW exit now finalized, that tease suddenly feels a lot more real.

Chris Jericho’s free agent status makes him the hottest name in wrestling right now. Whether he steps into a WWE ring on January 5 or keeps the world guessing, one thing’s clear: the next move is his — and the wrestling world is watching.

Do you want to see Chris Jericho back in WWE? And if he returns, what brand or feud should he jump into first? Sound off below and tell us how you’d book Y2J’s next chapter.