Tony Khan Explains Chris Jericho's New AEW Contract (AEW News)

AEW boss Tony Khan has stated that Chris Jericho was a free agent once his company contract expired at the tail end of 2025. However, the legend picked All Elite over anywhere else before thrashing out terms on a new multi-year deal with Khan's promotion.

Fightful reports that Jericho will be #AllElite "for the foreseeable future" after agreeing to a brand new contract. That puts to bed any talks of him returning to WWE, which had dominated conversation amidst rumours that the veteran was ready to walk away from AEW. Many expected to see him show up for January's Royal Rumble over in Saudi Arabia, then embark on a twin WrestleMania 42 run and WWE Hall Of Fame induction.

If that HOF status is incoming someday, then it's on ice. Jericho has committed his future to AEW, and Tony is thrilled to have him back on screens for the first time in around a year. Since locking down with All Elite, Jericho has lined up a match vs. Ricochet for AEW's Dynasty pay-per-view on 12 April.

During an appearance on Vince Russo and Jonathan Coachman's podcast, Khan said the following: "It was a choice that Chris made that he’d rather be in AEW than wrestling anywhere else, and I think that’s awesome". That's when Tony confirmed that Jericho had been a free agent right up until a new contract was drafted for him to sign.

Again, it's unclear just how close Jericho was to launching an elusive WWE return. Speculation about it hogged the headlines for months.