Drew McIntyre Addresses Chris Jericho WWE Return Rumors

Chris Jericho’s status remains a mystery, but Drew McIntyre is adding fuel to the fire with a new comment that’s turning heads.

Speaking to TMZ.com ahead of the January 9, 2026 edition of SmackDown, McIntyre was asked about the ongoing speculation surrounding Jericho’s future as rumors of a WWE return continue to float around. His response was respectful but open-ended.

“Chris Jericho is one of my friends. I spent a lot of my youth with him. He’s a massive, massive star, and at this point in his life and career, whatever makes him happy makes me happy. He’s gonna make a huge splash wherever he goes. If it’s for us, why not?”

Jericho was not present at the January 5 Netflix anniversary edition of Raw from Barclays Center, despite his name being heavily discussed during the lead-up. The event marked WWE’s first full year on the streaming platform and included a Stranger Things theme — but no Jericho appearance.

Earlier reports confirmed that, as of that Friday, there was no internal communication in WWE suggesting Jericho had left AEW or entered talks with the company. Officially, his status remains unchanged.

Jonathan Coachman previously stirred speculation when he claimed Jericho would return to WWE, but there’s been no movement to support that claim publicly.

McIntyre’s comment may not confirm anything — but it certainly doesn’t shut the door either. Is Chris Jericho WWE-bound, or is he staying with AEW? What happens next remains to be seen.