What’s delaying Chris Jericho’s highly anticipated WWE return?
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Fans have been waiting for Chris Jericho’s WWE return since January.
Chris Jericho’s highly speculated return to the WWE was one of the most talked-about points before the first Raw of 2026, and fans continued to speculate at every tease that the AEW star was making his return.
Despite Jericho being listed on the AEW roster, many fans continued to chatter online about his return. Recently, when WWE teased the mystery crate, which was opened at the 2026 Elimination Chamber, and Danhausen came out of it to make his debut, many fans in the arena and online booed him.
Much of the backlash toward the reveal stemmed from fans expecting Jericho’s return, which led some of them to direct their frustration at Danhausen. So this raises the question, is Chris Jericho still returning to WWE, and if so, when?
Chris Jericho’s AEW contract has likely been extended
Dave Meltzer on the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Radio noted that there is a widespread belief that Chris Jericho’s contract with All Elite Wrestling may have been extended because of the time he missed during 2025.
Jericho’s most recent AEW in-ring appearance took place on April 6 at AEW Dynasty, where he lost the ROH World Championship to Bandido in a Title vs. Mask match.
On the other hand, his last WWE appearance came in 2018 during the Greatest Royal Rumble event, where he entered the 50-man Rumble match last.
Jericho signed with AEW in 2019 and remains listed on the AEW roster page, yet the WWE Universe remains hopeful of his return.
Is Chris Jericho still under contract with AEW?
Yes, Jericho is still under contract with the promotion and remains listed on the AEW roster page.
When did he last appear on AEW Television?
Jericho’s most recent AEW in-ring appearance took place on April 6 at AEW Dynasty, where he lost the ROH World Championship to Bandido in a Title vs. Mask match.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.