The status of one of All Elite Wrestling’s founding fathers, Chris Jericho, has been a hot topic recently among fans and industry insiders. The sports entertainment landscape is constantly shifting, and questions about where “Le Champion” stands with the company he helped build have been prominent, especially as his current contract approaches its expiration.
AEW President Tony Khan recently confirmed that Chris Jericho remains a welcome and significant figure in the company, despite his current activities. In an interview with Busted Open Radio, Khan stated that Jericho is a “huge part of AEW” and expressed gratitude for his role as the company’s first World Champion. With Jericho’s contract reportedly expiring in December 2025, rumors of a return to WWE for a final run and Hall of Fame induction are escalating, though Khan remains publicly optimistic about his future with AEW.
Khan Confirms Jericho’s Ongoing Value to AEW
AEW President and CEO Tony Khan recently addressed the speculation surrounding Chris Jericho’s standing with the promotion during an in-depth interview with Busted Open Radio. Khan was directly asked about the chances of the wrestling veteran returning to the company.
Khan’s response was unequivocally positive, reaffirming Jericho’s crucial role in the company’s history and future.
“Yeah, I love Chris Jericho,” Khan responded. “He’s a huge part of AEW. He’s been here since the beginning and you know, I think we’ll see what happens here in the coming months but, Chris is always a welcome, big part of AEW.”
This statement from the AEW shot-caller indicates that despite Jericho’s absence from weekly programming since April 2025, the door remains wide open for his eventual return.
What is the latest with Chris Jericho? @davidlagreca1 asked Tony Khan.#bustedopen247 pic.twitter.com/rX42wr9EqB
— SiriusXM Busted Open (@BustedOpenRadio) October 20, 2025
Gratitude for a Founding Father
Khan didn’t stop at just confirming Jericho’s welcome status; he used the opportunity to express profound gratitude for everything the former world champion has contributed to the promotion over the past six years.
“We’d always want to have him here so, I absolutely am so grateful to Chris Jericho for everything he’s done and you mention that AEW book, looking at the history, well, Chris Jericho is a huge part of that history,” Khan added.
He highlighted Jericho’s crucial milestones with the company:
- The Very First AEW World Champion: A historical marker that forever ties Jericho to the promotion’s genesis.
- Nine-Time World Champion: A nod to Jericho’s legendary career achievements, several of which were secured within AEW.
Khan’s comments serve as a powerful endorsement of Jericho’s value, establishing him not just as an employee, but as an integral piece of the promotion’s historical foundation.ment of Jericho’s value, establishing him not just as an employee, but as an integral piece of the promotion’s historical foundation.
Will He Return to WWE? The Looming Question and Rumors
The biggest question hanging over Chris Jericho’s immediate future is not if he will return to a wrestling ring, but which ring it will be.
The Contract Timeline: Jericho’s current AEW contract, signed in 2022, is widely reported to expire in December 2025. This window has created a perfect storm of speculation, especially since his creative direction in AEW had cooled off prior to his current absence.
The WWE Buzz: Rumors about a potential WWE return are currently at an all-time high. Several top wrestling journalists have reported that there are people within WWE who believe Jericho will return to the company once his AEW deal is up. The speculation centers on a major comeback, potentially as a surprise entrant in the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble match.
The Motivation: For WWE, bringing back the first-ever AEW World Champion would be a massive coup and a huge piece of business. For Jericho, it would provide a final, fresh run under the management of Triple H, whose creative direction is viewed as more open to returning veterans than the previous regime. Many experts also see a WWE return as the logical avenue for Jericho to receive his well-deserved induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Jericho’s Stance: Jericho himself has been diplomatic but open, previously stating that he “wouldn’t be opposed” to a WWE return, but that he has to “see what happens” and “consider all your options and choose wisely.” With his AEW deal ending, and seemingly no concrete on-screen plan for him right now, every move he makes is scrutinized for a sign of where he will land in 2026.
