WWE Reportedly Offers a Retirement Storyline To Chris Jericho – Chris Jericho’s next move in professional wrestling has become one of the most closely watched situations of the year, and new reporting from Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter indicates that WWE has made a direct play for the veteran star. Jericho, who has been absent from AEW programming since April 2025, is now on the longest hiatus of his AEW career, fueling speculation that a major shift may be on the horizon.
According to Meltzer, WWE has formally expressed interest in bringing Jericho back into the company under a retirement storyline—an angle that would give him a clear long-term direction should he return.
“With Chris Jericho he said that he hoped Jericho would be back but didn’t say it would happen. As noted many times, this one is a Jericho decision and all hints are in the WWE direction. I know that WWE has offered him a retirement storyline and those in WWE have said that’s what they’d be interested in. Others expect him to be there early next year but nothing is confirmed.”
Financially, the offer appears to be substantial. A WWE source previously told Fightful Select that Jericho would “almost certainly get offered ‘several million dollars’ annually” if he chose to rejoin the company. AEW is believed to be capable of matching the financial aspect, making Jericho’s decision less about salary and more about what he wants at this stage of his career.
His recent physical transformation, highlighted in a widely circulated photo, has only added more fuel to the conversation surrounding a potential WWE return.
Fightful Select has reported that Jericho’s AEW contract is set to expire at the end of 2025, unless the deal is extended or frozen. The timing of that expiration, combined with the length of his current absence, has naturally opened the door to rumors about his next step.
Despite his absence, AEW President Tony Khan has publicly praised Jericho and attempted to downplay the speculation. Speaking positively about Jericho’s standing with the company, Khan stated:
“I love Chris Jericho. He’s a huge part of AEW, and Chris is always a welcome, big part of AEW we’d always want to have here.”
Even so, Meltzer noted that Jericho hasn’t been part of recent creative discussions. The report emphasized that Jericho usually communicates creative ideas directly with Khan, but his name simply hasn’t come up, leaving his future in AEW uncertain even as his relationship with Khan remains “still strong.”
Meltzer also reported that multiple companies are monitoring Jericho’s status closely. While Jericho’s camp hasn’t communicated any definitive plans, one WWE staffer noted that the strong crowd reactions to Jericho references on WWE programming were “a good sign for his interest.”
With a major financial offer from WWE, an open door in AEW, and interest from additional promotions, Jericho is approaching one of the biggest crossroads of his career. As 2026 approaches, all eyes remain on where “The Ocho” will decide to write his final chapter.
WWE Reportedly Offers a Retirement Storyline To Chris Jericho
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