There is significant speculation regarding the future of Chris Jericho as his time with AEW appears to be coming to an end. PWInsiderElite.com has provided an update on the situation, confirming that Jericho’s AEW deal is “expected to expire fairly soon,” unless a secret extension has been reached.
According to the report, there is a belief within WWE business circles that the former Undisputed Champion will be back in the fold shortly. “There are some in WWE circles, specifically some WWE licensees, who are under the belief Jericho will soon be available to them for use on their products,” PWInsider reported.
This aligns with information from WrestleVotes, which states that individuals within WWE expect Jericho to return once his contract with AEW concludes. “People in WWE have expected Jericho to come back once he was finished with AEW since last August,” WrestleVotes reported.
Jericho’s current contract with AEW is set to expire on December 31, 2025. He has been absent from AEW programming since April 2025, following a loss to Bandido. Since that appearance, reports indicate there have been no creative plans for him in AEW, and there was no sign of him at the Worlds End pay-per-view on Saturday night.
Regarding his current whereabouts, PWInsider noted that Jericho has been seen in Vancouver recently working on what was described as a “Disney” project, though no further details were provided.
Jericho himself addressed the possibility of a return during a live stream on his YouTube channel on December 27. “You never know. You never know,” Jericho stated.
He also told media outlets earlier in the year, “I’m pretty sure you’ll see me in 2026 in a wrestling ring somewhere.”
While there were rumors of Jericho potentially appearing on Raw this past Monday, PWInsider stated they had not heard anything to support that claim at this time. However, with his contract expiring on December 31, he would become a free agent at the start of the new year. The January 5, 2026 episode of Monday Night Raw is scheduled to take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, leading to speculation that WWE could be saving a potential return for that major show.
