Chris Jericho AEW Departure Speculation Grows After Instagram Like (WWE News)
Could Chris Jericho be eyeing a WWE return?
With previous reports that Chris Jericho's AEW contract is up later this year, the veteran has stoked the fires where it pertains to speculation over a potential WWE return.
Last month saw a Fightful report noting that Jericho's existing AEW deal expires at the end of 2025, and the inaugural AEW World Champion has now "liked" an Instagram post from JM Playground that claims the Fozzy frontman is open to a WWE return.
By all accounts, Chris Jericho's AEW deal runs until December, with no news on him having re-signed with the company as of yet. Of course, there is still plenty of time for a new deal to be agreed on, should both parties be interested in continuing their working relationship. On the other hand, it may be that Jericho feels like he's done all he can in AEW and fancies a final farewell run in WWE, or it could be that Tony Khan feels that the promotion is in a place now where it doesn't need a Chris Jericho, particularly if that would be on similar hefty terms to his previous contract(s) - with Jericho at one point said to be the highest paid wrestler in the company.
The Importance Of Chris Jericho To AEW
While some AEW fans may have grown a smidge tired of Chris Jericho on their screens in more recent times, it cannot be understated how important he was during the promotion's infancy.
Yes, a strong portion of wrestling fans may have been well aware just how talented the likes of Kenny Omega, the Young Bucks, Adam Page, etc, were, but, from a wider, mainstream perspective, Jericho was pivotal in those early days. This was someone who had spent the best part of 19 years with WWE, was a six-time World Champion, had appeared in movies and various TV shows, and was, simply, a name. Added to that, Jericho was and is one of the best all-round talents of his generation, plus had plenty of credit in the bank with those New Japan Pro-Wrestling fans who'd flocked to AEW to follow the careers of the likes of the Elite.
Chris Jericho was the right guy at the right time to be one of the faces of AEW at launch, and he was undoubtedly the right choice to become the first-ever AEW World Champion and to take on the media duties and personal appearances that come with such a role. However, we're now six years removed from the launch of All Elite Wrestling, and the landscape is obviously very different. The company has been able to grow fresh stars, new big-name talent has joined along the way, and a Chris Jericho who will turn 55 in November is clearly not the same Chris Jericho of 2019. And that's not a dig at the one-time Le Champion, for, as they say, Father Time is undefeated. That's not to say that Jericho doesn't still have a role to play in the pro wrestling world, mind, for there are still numerous ways in which he could be a valuable asset to either AEW or WWE, or any other company, for that matter.