AEW announcer Tony Schiavone has weighed in on the rumors of Chris Jericho potentially returning to WWE, stating he has no direct knowledge of the situation. Speaking on his podcast, Schiavone explained that AEW President Tony Khan keeps sensitive business matters highly guarded, even from senior personnel.
“If there’s smoke to that fire, it has not been thrown my way,” Schiavone said. “And I was backstage with Tony Khan most of this entire trip [Forbidden Door]. Chris Jericho’s name was not mentioned, but that doesn’t mean anything. Tony, a lot of times, will get on the phone with that person and not tell anybody. He likes to keep things close to the vest.”
Schiavone added that he intentionally avoids asking about such high-level negotiations. “You know what? I don’t ask because I don’t want to get blamed if it leaks. So the less you know, the better.”
His comments add another layer to the widespread speculation surrounding Jericho, whose AEW contract is reportedly set to expire at the end of 2025. The talk intensified following reports from outlets like the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and WrestleVotes indicating “significant interest” from WWE in bringing him back, with some sources within AEW believing he could appear as a surprise entrant in the 2026 Royal Rumble.
The reports prompted Tony Khan to address the situation during a recent media call for ROH Death Before Dishonor. While Khan did not confirm or deny the rumors, he heavily praised Jericho’s foundational role in the company. “I would never be where I am in AEW without Chris Jericho,” Khan stated, adding that he would love to have Jericho back “if and when the time presents itself.”
As discussions about a potential WWE run continue, wrestling veteran Dutch Mantell offered a different perspective on his “Story Time with Dutch Mantell” podcast. Mantell suggested that if Jericho returns in 2026, it should be in a non-wrestling role such as an agent or manager, believing Jericho’s “better days are behind him” as a full-time in-ring competitor.
Chris Jericho has not appeared on AEW programming since early April 2025, after he lost the ROH World Championship and walked out on his faction, The Learning Tree.