Amid growing speculation about Chris Jericho’s future, WWE Hall of Famer Teddy Long has weighed in, stating the veteran performer “knows how to protect himself” and prevent anyone from “burying him.” Speaking on the latest episode of Sportskeeda’s The Wrestling Time Machine, Long elaborated on Jericho’s unique ability to maintain his standing regardless of match outcomes.
“Chris Jericho, I love him. Great guy man,” Long said. “And one thing about Chris Jericho, Chris Jericho knows how to protect himself. He knows how to get out there, and he knows how to keep somebody from burying him. So like I said, he is the only guy, you could beat him 1 2 3 right in the middle, and he would get right up and get his heat back. People would forget all about how he got beat.”
Long’s confidence in Jericho’s resilience comes as the wrestler’s prolonged absence from All Elite Wrestling continues to fuel widespread discussion. He has not appeared on AEW programming since mid-April 2025, when he lost the Ring of Honor World Championship at Dynasty and subsequently walked out on his faction, The Learning Tree.
Jericho remains under contract with AEW through the end of 2025. With several months still left on the agreement, it is currently unknown if his time off could lead to the contract being frozen or extended. Reports indicate that creative discussions for a potential return have not been reported, though it is noted that Jericho typically discusses his creative direction privately and directly with AEW President Tony Khan.
The absence has intensified rumors of a potential WWE return, which were amplified after Jericho “liked” an Instagram post suggesting he should make a comeback. While neither Jericho nor Tony Khan have publicly addressed the situation, they have also not denied the growing speculation.
Sources from within both companies have offered a more cautious view on a potential move. Individuals within WWE have indicated that Jericho’s name has not been brought up in creative discussions, with one source stating it is “far too early to tell” what might happen. A separate report mentioned that some in WWE “expect him” to be available at the start of 2026. On the AEW side, there are some who reportedly believe the 54-year-old star is not likely to re-sign with the company when his contract expires.
Wrestling analysts have also offered theories on Jericho’s next steps. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported there is a belief among some in AEW that Jericho could appear in WWE as a surprise entrant in the 2026 Royal Rumble. On the Notsam Wrestling podcast, host Sam Roberts proposed that Jericho should remain off television until January 1, 2026, to build anticipation for a surprise return. Meanwhile, PWTorch editor Wade Keller raised the question of what value WWE would see in Jericho, who will be 55 years old in 2026, beyond the narrative of signing a major star from a rival promotion.