Chris Jericho Signs New 3-Year AEW Contract
The Ocho pens a new deal to remain with AEW through until December 2025.
With plentiful recent chatter that certain AEW stars have asked for their release from the company, one person who will be remaining #AllElite for the foreseeable future is Chris Jericho.
As exclusively revealed by Variety, the current Ring of Honor World Champion has inked a new three-year deal that will keep him with AEW through until December 2025. In addition to being an in-ring, on-screen talent, this contract will also see Jericho officially take on increased responsibilities behind the scenes as a producer and creative advisor.
In a statement released to the outlet, AEW President Tony Khan enthused:
"Chris Jericho long ago cemented his legacy as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, and we're fortunate to have his skills, charisma, knowledge and insights in AEW for years to come. Chris has discovered a fountain of youth this year, and he's having some of the very best matches of his legendary career against some of the top names in wrestling. In expanding his responsibilities, he'll continue to serve as a valuable leader with our roster having the opportunity to utilize one of the most creative minds in the history of wrestling."
Likewise, Jericho has commented on his decision to re-sign with All Elite Wrestling:
"I guess the simple answer is 'Why not?'. Things have been going so well in the company, and I really do feel that this is my company. It's tattooed on my heart, so to speak. I've been here since day one, and there's really no reason not to be here continuing forward. When AEW first started, I think basically it was Chris Jericho and a group of very talented people that might not have been as well known. Within three months that changed and now within three years, we've got at least a dozen, maybe two dozen, of our own homegrown stars that came into their own on AEW television."
As alluded to, the Ocho has been with AEW since the very beginning, being one of the tentpole signings initially made by Tony Khan.
The first ever AEW World Champion, Jericho's legendary career dates all the way back to 1990. Trained at the Hart Brothers School of Wrestling, the real-life Christopher Irvine initially made waves for promotions such as FMW, CMLL, Smoky Mountain Wrestling, and WAR, before landing in ECW in 1996.
From ECW, Jericho would soon head to WCW - complete with a short stint in NJPW - and continue to impress with each passing week. While WCW were against pulling the trigger on any serious main event push for the former Lionheart, the Winnipeg native would cement himself as a true top tier player once he jumped over to the then-WWF in 1999.
Amongst the many accolades to have come Jericho's way throughout his illustrious career, he's a four-time WWE Champion, a two-time WCW Champion, the inaugural AEW Champion, and, as mentioned, the current ROH Champion; these World Titles being just the tip of the iceberg for one of the genuine all-time greatest wrestlers to ever lace up a pair of boots.