Chris Jericho's WWE Move 'Now Dead' as AEW Return Signals Long-Term Commitment, Per Meltzer

Any speculation about Chris Jericho potentially making a move to WWE appears to be over, according to a new report from Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Jericho made his return to AEW this past Wednesday on Dynamite, appearing in his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada - his first appearance in nearly a year. And according to Meltzer, that return signals much more than just a one-off appearance. Within wrestling circles, the prevailing belief is that Jericho will remain a part of All Elite Wrestling for the long haul.

Meltzer reports that Jericho's original contract had expired at the end of 2025, but AEW President Tony Khan extended the agreement to compensate for time Jericho missed due to outside commitments, which included acting work.

As for the long-discussed possibility of a WWE run, Meltzer says the interest from that side was always narrow in scope. WWE's vision, per his sources, was limited strictly to bringing Jericho in for a retirement tour and farewell - nothing more. At one point, reporting had suggested 2026 could be structured around retirement storylines for AJ Styles, Brock Lesnar, and Jericho. Despite teases from WWE's Adam Pearce and a separate nod from CM Punk, Meltzer says those close to the situation consistently cautioned against reading into any of the circulating WWE-Jericho rumors.

The specifics of Jericho's current deal with AEW remain under wraps, with Meltzer noting that nobody is openly discussing the details. Nevertheless, the broader picture appears settled - a WWE move is dead, and Jericho is back in AEW.

How he'll be used creatively, and how fans will receive him going forward, may become clearer in the coming weeks as AEW moves its television tapings out of Canada.