Report: WWE Is Talking About Chris Jericho's Return, Royal Rumble Rumoured (WWE News)
Chris Jericho could be a surprise entrant in WWE's 2026 Royal Rumble.
Dave Meltzer has said via Wrestling Observer Radio that the idea of Chris Jericho leaving AEW to rejoin WWE is actually a pretty big talking point behind the curtain with the market leader. The Observer head's WWE sources tell him that "there is a lot of talk there about Jericho", and that those in the know believe he'll pop up in next year's Royal Rumble match.
That'd be a special moment for 'Y2J'. The 2026 Rumble is set to take place in Saudi Arabia, and it's likely fans there would be thrilled to see him return to former glories. However, the biggest question may be this: Will that be for one night only, or will Jericho go on a lengthy retirement run that includes other banner PLEs like WrestleMania and SummerSlam?
Meltzer didn't say anything about that. Much of his report focused on the 30-man Rumble.
Dave also revealed that Jericho's current AEW contract "is up at the end of the year". He knows for a fact that there's interest on WWE's side in sitting down with Chris to thrash out a deal and make something happen. There's no word on whether or not All Elite boss Tony Khan wants to extend Jericho's deal and keep him around.
Opinion: Jericho Needs WWE Retirement Run
Despite being heavily criticised (and even jeered by live crowds) in more recent years, there's no denying that Jericho is deserving of the WWE Hall Of Fame treatment. He was a success story in WCW even before signing on with the company in 1999, but his subsequent work in the WWF/WWE turned him into a legend.
It's why folks were so buzzed when he helped launch the AEW revolution in 2019, and Chris was a crucial component to Khan's early successes. By that same token, there's simply no glossing over the fact that All Elite's fanbase has grown tired of Jericho starting endless stables, hoovering up plenty of TV time, and generally acting like part of the furniture when it's clear his best days are behind him in-ring.
That's not to say that a motivated Jericho couldn't put on a show as part of a Rumble > Hall Of Fame > WrestleMania stint. Hearing that old 'Break The Walls Down' music would be a nostalgic thrill for many, and he'd act as a killer cameo in the 2026 Rumble bout.
The pop would be huge. The social media fallout and numbers could be even bigger.