Why Chris Jericho Returned To AEW Instead Of WWE

Chris Jericho’s return to AEW turned heads on Dynamite, but a new update is revealing the real reason he may have chosen AEW instead of making a move back to WWE.

Jericho made his comeback during the April 1 episode of AEW Dynamite, interrupting a contract signing segment involving MJF and Kenny Omega. Tony Schiavone was already in the ring preparing to start the segment when Jericho suddenly walked out, stopping everything cold. After letting the crowd react to his return following a long absence from AEW television since April 2025, Jericho confirmed he was back with a short message.

“AEW I'm home.”

While the return itself created plenty of attention, new details that surfaced afterward pointed to what may have influenced his decision to return to AEW rather than WWE.

Dave Meltzer explained via Wrestling Observer Radio that rumors had started circulating about Jericho possibly appearing at WrestleMania, which led him to check directly with WWE sources. What he learned suggested that WWE was not planning to bring Jericho back in the way some fans expected.

“So what happened was a couple days ago I woke up and I had a text message which you had as well about Jericho and WrestleMania. And then as soon as I woke up like five minutes later I got a phone call from somebody saying Jericho's gonna be in Winnipeg for AEW. But it's not something you can go with because it's just something you heard. So I checked with WWE, because I know he'd been talking to WWE. They thought at one point he was going. And the response from WWE was that he is not coming to WWE now anytime soon and maybe never. So at that point I kind of figured that by that he is going to AEW because he had just done the trademark for his return, which was ‘The Cornerstone.’ So I figured when I heard that from WWE that he was coming to AEW, and Winnipeg clearly seemed like the place to do it.”

Another key detail revealed what WWE reportedly wanted from Jericho if he had returned. Instead of continuing long-term, the plan was said to revolve around a farewell-style run.

“I think that from the WWE standpoint… I was told that as far as they wanted him for a retirement tour… I just know that they told me that they wanted him for a retirement tour and that was it.”

That detail may explain why Jericho ultimately returned to AEW instead of WWE. Rather than stepping into what could have been the final chapter of his career, the move back to AEW leaves the door open for him to continue wrestling and stay active in ongoing storylines. Now that he’s back, the focus shifts to how long this new run could last and what direction his return will take next.