The world of professional wrestling thrives on speculation, and few names generate as much buzz as Chris Jericho. As 2026 dawned, the rumor mill kicked into overdrive, with fans and insiders alike debating whether the legendary performer was poised for a dramatic return to WWE. Yet, as the dust settled after the January 5 episode of Monday Night Raw in Brooklyn, New York, one thing was clear: Jericho's next move remains shrouded in uncertainty, even as clues and teases keep the wrestling community on edge.
Jericho, 55, has been a fixture in the wrestling world for over three decades. He first rose to prominence in WWE during the early 2000s, capturing multiple world titles and captivating audiences with his charisma and ability to reinvent himself. After leaving WWE in 2018, he became a cornerstone of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), serving as the promotion's inaugural world champion when it launched in 2019. His run in AEW has been marked by high-profile matches, memorable storylines, and his signature knack for evolving his persona to stay relevant.
But as 2025 drew to a close, whispers began circulating that Jericho's time with AEW might be ending. According to fightfulselect.com and other outlets, Jericho's contract was believed to expire at the end of 2025, theoretically making him a free agent as of January 1, 2026. This timing, coinciding with WWE's buildup to Wrestlemania 42, only fueled speculation that Jericho could be preparing for one final, headline-grabbing run with his old employer.
Yet, the situation is anything but straightforward. Despite reports of his contract's expiration, Jericho remains listed on AEW's official roster page as of January 5, 2026—a detail that has not gone unnoticed. AEW is typically quick to remove talent from its site once they depart, and a recent memo about wrestler exits did not include Jericho's name. When AEW sources were pressed for clarification, they remained tight-lipped, neither confirming nor denying that Jericho was officially done with the company or that any time had been added to his contract.
On the WWE side, the anticipation reached a fever pitch ahead of the first Monday Night Raw of the new year, held at Brooklyn's Barclays Center. The show was a special event, marking the one-year anniversary of Raw's move to Netflix and featuring a crossover with the hit series Stranger Things. In the days leading up to the broadcast, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce fanned the flames of speculation by asking, "Who can break down the walls and claim the gold?"—a clear nod to Jericho's iconic "Break the Walls Down" entrance theme. Fans and pundits alike interpreted this as a not-so-subtle tease that Jericho might be making a surprise appearance.
However, those hopes were quickly dashed as the night unfolded. According to PWInsider, there was no internal belief within WWE that Jericho would be present at the Barclays Center for the January 5 show. "We have heard from no one in WWE who believes Chris Jericho will be there tonight live in NYC as of this writing," the report stated. This sentiment was echoed across multiple outlets, with sources confirming that Jericho was not factored into creative plans for the event. The show went on without him, headlined by CM Punk defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Bron Breakker—a match that continued a heated feud involving Austin Theory, who had recently unmasked as the "Masked Attacker."
Despite his absence, Jericho's status continues to be the talk of the wrestling world. In late 2025, he addressed his future in typically cryptic fashion: "Well, you never know, man. That's the thing is — I'm not done yet. So, still figuring out everything and we'll see where I end up. But I'm pretty sure you'll see me in 2026 in a wrestling ring somewhere." With that, speculation about a return to WWE—or perhaps another chapter elsewhere—remains alive and well.
Eric Bischoff, the former WCW president and a longtime figure in the wrestling business, has been particularly vocal about his belief that Jericho is preparing for a WWE comeback. "Chris Jericho is coming, I predicted it a long time ago," Bischoff said in a recent interview with RG. He pointed to Jericho's recent physical transformation, noting, "About eight months ago, maybe a little more, I'm starting to see pictures of Chris Jericho, and I'm going to flat out say it -- I like Chris, we're friends. He got fat. He looked like a stuffed sausage in the ring. It was almost embarrassing. And then about six to eight months ago, I started looking at pictures of Chris, and he's leaning out, starting to look pretty good. The more I'd see him, the more obvious it was that he was making a big commitment to get himself into shape."
Bischoff's speculation doesn't stop there. He believes that, with other stars from Jericho's era such as John Cena and Bill Goldberg retiring in 2025 and AJ Styles set to retire in 2026, a WWE return could serve as a fitting farewell tour for the seven-time world champion. Bischoff praised Jericho's unparalleled ability to reinvent himself, suggesting that a part-time or featured role in WWE could allow Jericho to extend his storied career and "close it on his own terms."
While Jericho's next step remains uncertain, the wrestling landscape is shifting around him. AEW has seen several prominent stars from its early days depart, and Jericho himself hasn't appeared on AEW television since an in-ring segment on the April 9, 2025 episode of Dynamite. His comments on his "Talk is Jericho" podcast—where he praised TNA as the number two wrestling company and made less-than-flattering comparisons to AEW—have only added to the sense that his time with Tony Khan's promotion may be drawing to a close.
For now, fans are left to guess when and where Jericho will reemerge. Many believe that, if a WWE return is in the cards, he could make a surprise appearance as an entrant in the 2026 Royal Rumble—a move that would all but guarantee a thunderous reaction and set the stage for a potentially career-capping run leading into Wrestlemania 42.
As the wrestling world holds its collective breath, one thing is certain: Chris Jericho's legacy is already secure, but the possibility of one last reinvention—one more run under the bright lights of WWE—has fans and insiders alike watching, waiting, and wondering what walls he might break down next.