Amid ongoing speculation about Chris Jericho’s future, AEW President Tony Khan publicly addressed the situation during a media call on Thursday, stating his desire for the inaugural AEW World Champion to return. “If and when the time presents itself, I would love to have him back,” Khan said. “He’s always in the highest of standing in AEW or ROH.”
Khan’s comments come as Jericho’s contract with AEW is set to expire at the end of the year. The statement directly confronts a recent report from Dave Meltzer, which indicated that many within AEW expect Jericho to sign with WWE once he becomes a free agent.
The widespread discussion was amplified by Jericho himself, who recently liked an Instagram post about him being open to a WWE return. He has been off AEW television since an April segment where he drove away from The Learning Tree faction. According to Meltzer, Jericho’s break was initiated to accommodate a tour with his band, Fozzy.
Adding another layer to the internal situation, AEW producer Tony Schiavone commented on the rumors during his ‘What Happened When’ podcast. Schiavone stated that Jericho’s name was not brought up in recent discussions with Tony Khan, but noted that this isn’t definitive. He described Khan as someone who keeps major business decisions “close to the vest” and often deals with talent directly.
Perspectives from within WWE vary. Some sources have indicated Jericho’s name has not been part of creative talks, calling it “far too early to tell,” while another report noted an expectation that he will be available at the start of 2026. Dave Meltzer reported that some in AEW believe a surprise appearance at the 2026 Royal Rumble is a possibility. In contrast, PWTorch editor Wade Keller questioned the value WWE would see in a 55-year-old Jericho beyond the optics of signing a star from a rival.