The Very Latest on Chris Jericho Potentially Returning to WWE – A wave of new reports indicates that Chris Jericho may be heading back to WWE much sooner than fans anticipated — and possibly even before the Royal Rumble.
According to Alex McCarthy of Wrestling Intel, Jericho’s AEW contract is set to expire at midnight on December 31, making him a free agent heading into 2026. McCarthy reports that WWE is strongly considering having Jericho make his return at the January 5 Raw on Netflix anniversary show, rather than saving him for a surprise appearance in the January 31 Royal Rumble.
Jon Alba of SI.com added fuel to the speculation, noting that his sources “also believe he’s going to show up on WWE TV very soon.”
Dave Meltzer addressed the situation in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, writing that he also believes Jericho’s contract is expiring imminently. Meltzer noted that while nothing is confirmed, the expectation within the industry is that Jericho is WWE‑bound.
Meltzer wrote:
“Most in wrestling think he’s going to WWE as a surprise for the Rumble. It’s nothing confirmed but it’s also something that I don’t imagine will be confirmed because if he is going, I think Paul Levesque will keep the circle very small who is told.”
Jericho himself didn’t do much to quiet the rumors. During a live episode of The Winnipeggers podcast on YouTube Saturday night, he was asked directly about a potential WWE return. Jericho simply replied:
“You never know.”
With his AEW deal reportedly expiring in just days and multiple major outlets hearing similar chatter, the window for Jericho’s next move is rapidly approaching. Whether he shows up on the January 5 Raw, the Royal Rumble, or somewhere else entirely, the possibility of a Chris Jericho WWE return is now very real — and very close.
The Very Latest on Chris Jericho Potentially Returning to WWE
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