Yet ANOTHER Sign That Chris Jericho Is Done With AEW? (WWE News)

Is Chris Jericho's WWE return getting closer?

by Andrew Pollard
Chris Jericho
AEW

In another possible indicator that Chris Jericho could be about to swap AEW for a return to WWE, the veteran has abandoned his latest trademark application.

April 2024 saw Jericho submit an application for "The Jericho Vortex" - a phrase fans have used for those talents the inaugural AEW World Champion has worked with in recent years - but The United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a notice of abandonment for that trademark on 21 October. The reason for this abandonment is that a statement of use or an extension request hasn't been submitted in the six-month period after the trademark was officially accepted.

That trademark had been lined up for goods and services covering:

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Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, televised appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; Providing online interviews featuring a professional wrestling and sports entertainment personality in the field of professional wrestling and sports entertainment for entertainment purposes

As alluded to, the Jericho Vortex is a phrase some fans have used to describe those talents who have worked notable programs with Chris Jericho, but have come out of the other side either worse for it or in the exact same spot they were before they got involved with Le Champion.

In terms of what's next for Jericho, his AEW contract is due to expire at the end of this year, with plentiful speculation that a WWE return could be on the horizon, potentially at next year's Royal Rumble. WWE is said to have interest in the Canadian, whilst AEW President Tony Khan has regularly talked about how he'd love for Jericho to remain #AllElite.

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Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks/Saints, Jamie Hayter, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.