For months, the wrestling world has been buzzing with speculation that Chris Jericho was destined for a WWE return at the Royal Rumble. The prevailing belief was that his contract with AEW expired at the end of 2025, paving the way for a retirement run in the company where he became a legend. However, the Rumble has come and gone, and Jericho remains listed on the AEW roster page. The reason for this, it turns out, is quite simple.
Chris Jericho Is Still Under Contract To AEW
According to Fightful Select, Chris Jericho is actually still under contract with AEW. Despite reports from October 2022 stating his deal ran through the end of 2025, he remains legally bound to Tony Khan’s promotion. Why exactly the deal did not expire as scheduled remains unknown, but his continued presence on the roster page—situated between Cash Wheeler and Christian Cage—is not an error. It is a reflection of reality.
This contractual status explains why “The Ocho” did not appear in Riyadh. Fightful noted that there is indeed interest from within WWE should he become a free agent, but that door is currently closed. For now, Jericho remains busy with his music career; his band Fozzy is set to begin a 13-show tour of the United Kingdom on February 6, keeping him occupied through late February.
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