Chris Jericho has landed the lead villain role on an upcoming episode of the CBS series Tracker, one of the highest-rated shows on network television, as he continues his extended absence from AEW programming.
Jericho announced the news on Instagram, revealing he will play a character named Virgil Dean in an episode titled Breakaway. “I’ll be playing the lead bad guy on this Sunday’s episode of Tracker, the number one show on network TV,” Jericho wrote. “I play Virgil Dean and let’s just say, he’s not a nice guy. Can’t wait for you all to see it.”
The episode stars Justin Hartley alongside Fiona Rene, David Paul Ramsey, and Erica Durance, and is directed by David Barrett. It is set to air Sunday night at 9 p.m. EST on CBS and Paramount+.
The casting adds another acting credit to Jericho’s resume outside of professional wrestling. He has pursued acting alongside his wrestling career for years, appearing in projects including the 2009 horror film Albino Farm, the 2018 comedy Knuckleball, and multiple television appearances. He also appeared in the 2019 film Countdown and has made cameo appearances in various productions over the years.
Jericho has been absent from AEW television for an extended period following an injury sustained during a live event. His AEW contract is currently the subject of speculation, with reports indicating it may be frozen. Wrestling Observer’s Bryan Alvarez previously reported that the contract freeze has been a point of discussion, though no resolution has been publicly confirmed. Jericho remains listed on AEW’s official roster page despite his prolonged absence.
Speculation about Jericho’s future has intensified in recent months, with many within the wrestling world wondering whether his next in-ring appearance will come in AEW or WWE. Eric Bischoff said on 83 Weeks that as a fan, he would rather see Jericho end his career in WWE, describing it as the natural conclusion to his career. AEW President Tony Khan has not made any public statement about Jericho’s status or return timeline.
Jericho was one of the founding pillars of AEW when the promotion launched in 2019, winning the inaugural AEW World Championship by defeating Hangman Adam Page at All Out that year.
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