Chris Jericho\u2019s future in AEW has been under serious speculation ever since he disappeared from television back in April 2025.<\/p>\n
Rumors swirled around everything from creative burnout to the possibility of a massive WWE return<\/a>. Now, Jericho himself is offering a glimpse into where his loyalties currently stand\u2014and it came during an unexpected appearance on NHL on TNT.<\/p>\n On October 30, Jericho posted Instagram Story clips<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n While discussing his iconic ladder match with Shawn Michaels and comparing it to current AEW rivalries, Jericho said:<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s 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\u2019s a little bit off his rocker. I\u2019d say he\u2019s kind of like the Mark Messier of pro wrestling to where you never really know what he\u2019s going to do and he\u2019s got his death stare and we always end up cut open and bleeding. But you know, it\u2019s going to be exciting and physical and people are into it and that\u2019s\u2014that makes it more fun because like you guys said, when you\u2019re playing 80 games a year, it\u2019s a little bit of a grind. But if you have a certain Boston tonight, oh, this is going to be a\u2014that\u2019s the same deal with wrestling as well, rivalries in hockey.\u201d<\/p>\n That key phrase\u2014\u201cwhere I work now\u201d\u2014seems 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 \u201cRock \u2018N\u2019 Wrestling Rager at Sea\u201d cruise in early November 2026 has dropped AEW branding altogether.<\/p>\n According to a previous reports, several promotions\u2014including WWE\u2014have kept tabs on Jericho\u2019s contract situation. WWE sources believe Jericho could command \u201cseveral million dollars annually\u201d to return<\/a>, but AEW is reportedly capable of matching that figure.<\/p>\n 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 \u201cfruitless venture\u201d given his market value and Tony Khan\u2019s desire to keep him.<\/p>\n Jericho signed a three-year AEW extension in October 2022<\/a>, placing the expiration window between November and December 2025\u2014just weeks away. But despite his absence from AEW programming, sources claim he hasn\u2019t asked for time off, and there\u2019s no indication that AEW is trying to freeze his deal.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, WWE executives haven\u2019t initiated any creative talks regarding Jericho\u2019s return. However, one company higher-up acknowledged that recent fan reactions to Jericho\u2019s name and signature moves being referenced on WWE programming were extremely positive.<\/p>\n Still, Jericho\u2019s recent comments could mean more\u2014or less\u2014than they seem. He may have simply referred to AEW as \u201cwhere I work now\u201d because his contract hasn\u2019t officially expired, or he could still be handling media duties on the company\u2019s 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 \u201cwhere I work now\u201d 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Please credit Ringside News<\/a> if you use the above transcript in your publication.<\/p>\n October 31, 2025 12:51 am<\/p>\n