Backstage Update On Chris Jericho Ahead Of WWE Royal Rumble

Despite rampant speculation and a litany of rumors suggesting a homecoming was imminent, it appears that Chris Jericho will not be a part of the WWE Royal Rumble this Saturday. Unless there is a drastic, last-minute change in plans, the wrestling legend is not scheduled to appear at the historic event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, effectively dashing the hopes of fans who were expecting to hear “Break the Walls Down” echo through the King Abdullah Financial District.

Chris Jericho Remains On AEW Roster Page

The primary evidence working against a return is Jericho’s current standing with All Elite Wrestling. As of this writing, “The Ocho” is still featured prominently on the company’s official roster page. Typically, when a talent departs a promotion, their profile is removed almost immediately, as seen recently with Tommaso Ciampa and Bobby Lashley. The fact that Jericho remains listed suggests he is still under contract or at least legally attached to the promotion he helped launch in 2019.

Furthermore, social media was recently set ablaze by a report claiming that WWE had filed a trademark for the name “Judas,” Jericho’s popular AEW theme song and faction name. However, that rumor has been confirmed as fake. No such filing exists, further dampening the theory that a deal has been secretly finalized.

WWE Teased A Return Earlier This Year

The disappointment for fans is compounded by the fact that WWE seemed to explicitly tease Jericho’s involvement just weeks ago. Before the first Monday Night Raw of 2026, General Manager Adam Pearce appeared in a preview clip asking, “Who can break the walls down and claim the gold?” The specific phrasing—referencing Jericho’s iconic WWE entrance theme used from 1999 to 2018—was interpreted by many as a soft launch for a retirement run.

The belief within the industry was that Jericho’s AEW contract expired at the end of 2025, paving the way for one final stint in the company where he became a global superstar. Jericho, now 55, has been absent from television since April 2025, when he dropped the ROH World Title to Bandido at Dynasty. While his future remains a topic of intense debate, it seems the “Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla” will not be making the trip to Saudi Arabia this weekend.

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