Chris Jericho Trademark Abandoned Amid WWE Return Speculation

Speculation continues to swirl about Chris Jericho’s AEW status and a possible WWE return, and now there’s been a legal update that adds fuel to the conversation. One of Jericho’s many trademark filings has officially been declared abandoned.

Jericho originally filed to trademark The Jericho Vortex back in April 2024. However, as of October 2025, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has ruled the trademark dead due to failure to follow up within the required timeline. The official USPTO notice reads:

“The application above is abandoned because we did not receive within six months of the Notice of Allowance (NOA) issue date: (1) A Statement of Use (SOU); or (2) A Request for Extension of Time to File a Statement of Use (Extension Request).”

It was further classified under, “FAILURE TO FILE TIMELY SOU OR EXTENSION REQUEST.”

This isn’t the first time Jericho has let a trademark lapse. While he’s known for aggressively locking down catchphrases and character names, many of those filings eventually get dropped. Unless Jericho files a petition to revive The Jericho Vortex within the next two months, the trademark will remain dead.

Jericho hasn’t appeared in AEW since April 2025. With his contract reportedly expiring at the end of the year, rumors of a WWE return have only intensified. Despite this, AEW President Tony Khan recently praised Jericho’s contributions and said he’ll always be welcome in the promotion.

Is Jericho clearing the slate for a fresh WWE chapter, or was The Jericho Vortex just another gimmick idea left behind? Drop your thoughts in the comments and tell us what you think.