What's In WWE's New Mystery Box? Backstage Update On Major REVEAL (WWE News)
No, it's likely NOT Chris Jericho.
With this week's edition of Raw featuring a mystery box with a "do not open until 2-28" label on it, some fans are speculating that this could be a part of Chris Jericho's long-rumoured WWE return.
That 28 February date is the same day as the Elimination Chamber, with Raw GM Adam Pearce quick to send this giant box to SmackDown, meaning we should hopefully get a little more development on this topic on this week's blue brand outing.
On this all being tied to Jericho's return to the WWE fold, Fightful Select reports that the inaugural AEW World Champion is "firmly under contract" with Tony Khan's promotion still, with there a belief that the veteran's existing AEW contract was "frozen" after he took time off in 2025.
Fightful has reached out to AEW various times to ask about Chris Jericho's status and whether he's left the company, to no avail. Usually, AEW is quick to update its official roster page when a talent is no longer with the promotion, and Jericho is still listed on there, sandwiched between Cash Wheeler and Christian Cage. Likewise, no internal memo has been distributed in regards to Chris' exit, which is standard procedure for AEW.
It was previously announced by AEW that Jericho was tied down until 2025, and there were countless reports in the final months of last year and into this year that he was on his way out of All Elite Wrestling and returning to WWE. Again, some had expected the nine-time World Champion to appear at this year's Royal Rumble, while others even speculated that he could turn up on Raw's one-year Netflix anniversary last month. Of course, neither of those things came to pass.
This Fightful report notes that those close to Chris Jericho have been "very tight-lipped" about the legend's future, but he has told certain people that he'd be open to a WWE return, though there is a concern that he'd have to give up his outside projects should he rejoin the market leader. In another interesting note, there is no plan in place for AEW talents to appear on this year's Jericho Cruise in November, which goes against what has been seen on the Jericho Cruise across the past several years.
Chris Jericho last wrestled at AEW Dynasty last April, where he lost the ROH World Title to Bandido.