Chris Jericho’s future in AEW has been under serious speculation ever since he disappeared from television back in April 2025.
Rumors swirled around everything from creative burnout to the possibility of a massive WWE return. Now, Jericho himself is offering a glimpse into where his loyalties currently stand—and it came during an unexpected appearance on NHL on TNT.
On October 30, Jericho posted Instagram Story clips, where he casually addressed both WWE and AEW during a conversation comparing the drama of wrestling with hockey rivalries. While the segment was mostly light-hearted, Jericho dropped a line that seemingly confirmed he still considers himself an AEW talent.
While discussing his iconic ladder match with Shawn Michaels and comparing it to current AEW rivalries, Jericho said:
“It’s hard to say, but I had a ladder match with Shawn Michaels and that one was a really great kind of culmination to the good guy and bad guy dynamic. And then in AEW, where I work now, we got this guy Jon Moxley, he’s a little bit off his rocker. I’d say he’s kind of like the Mark Messier of pro wrestling to where you never really know what he’s going to do and he’s got his death stare and we always end up cut open and bleeding. But you know, it’s going to be exciting and physical and people are into it and that’s—that makes it more fun because like you guys said, when you’re playing 80 games a year, it’s a little bit of a grind. But if you have a certain Boston tonight, oh, this is going to be a—that’s the same deal with wrestling as well, rivalries in hockey.”
That key phrase—“where I work now”—seems to shut down the idea that Jericho has secretly left AEW or is in the middle of a quiet exit. It also comes at a time when his podcast has notably shifted away from AEW topics, and his annual “Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager at Sea” cruise in early November 2026 has dropped AEW branding altogether.
According to a previous reports, several promotions—including WWE—have kept tabs on Jericho’s contract situation. WWE sources believe Jericho could command “several million dollars annually” to return, but AEW is reportedly capable of matching that figure.
At least two other national-level wrestling promotions are said to be interested in bringing Jericho aboard in some capacity, though none are looking to get into a serious bidding war. One promotion reportedly sees it as a “fruitless venture” given his market value and Tony Khan’s desire to keep him.
Jericho signed a three-year AEW extension in October 2022, placing the expiration window between November and December 2025—just weeks away. But despite his absence from AEW programming, sources claim he hasn’t asked for time off, and there’s no indication that AEW is trying to freeze his deal.
Meanwhile, WWE executives haven’t initiated any creative talks regarding Jericho’s return. However, one company higher-up acknowledged that recent fan reactions to Jericho’s name and signature moves being referenced on WWE programming were extremely positive.
Still, Jericho’s recent comments could mean more—or less—than they seem. He may have simply referred to AEW as “where I work now” because his contract hasn’t officially expired, or he could still be handling media duties on the company’s behalf until it does. The former AEW World Champion is known for playing mind games with fans and the media alike, and this might be another example of that. So while his “where I work now” remark sounds like confirmation of his AEW allegiance, it could just as easily be Jericho keeping everyone guessing until his next big move is revealed.
Do you think Chris Jericho should stay with AEW or ride one more wave back to WWE? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
October 31, 2025 12:51 am
