The Opening Countdown
When the countdown clock hit zero on an August night in 1999, the wrestling world changed. Chris Jericho walked onto a WWE stage, interrupted The Rock, and instantly became a household name. Twenty-six years later, Jericho’s name still carries the same electricity.
But now, in the twilight of a career defined by reinvention, the conversation around Jericho isn’t just about what he’s done. It’s about where he goes next.
The whispers have grown louder: a possible return to WWE in 2026, a Hall of Fame induction, maybe even one last run on the company’s biggest stage. On the other side is AEW, the promotion he helped build, where his fingerprints are everywhere—from the first championship belt he carried to the young talent he continues to mentor.
Jericho is at a crossroads. And his choice could ripple across the entire industry.
The Legacy of Reinvention
Chris Jericho is, in many ways, wrestling’s ultimate shape-shifter. He’s been the flashy cruiserweight in WCW. The smug “Y2J” who crashed WWE’s Millennium Party. The man who beat The Rock and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in the same night to become the first Undisputed Champion. The list-maker. The Painmaker. The Demo God. Le Champion.
Each iteration kept Jericho relevant, each one an evolution that mirrored wrestling’s shifting landscape.
“You don’t last in this business unless you change,” Jericho once said. “The worst thing you can do is get stale.”
That adaptability is why, at 54, he’s still an essential player in an industry obsessed with youth.
AEW’s Founding Father
When AEW launched in 2019, Jericho wasn’t just another signing—he was the anchor. A recognizable face who gave the upstart promotion immediate legitimacy.
“I don’t know if it would have been possible for us to launch AEW without Chris Jericho’s involvement,” AEW president Tony Khan said. “He’s been a fixture and a great part of AEW throughout the years.”
Jericho’s decision to jump wasn’t about comfort. It was about vision.
“I knew what the value that I had,” Jericho told Insight with Chris Van Vliet. “If I signed with AEW, it would help them get their deal with TBS and put the company on the map right away. And my hunch paid off.”
As AEW’s first World Champion, Jericho didn’t just carry a belt—he carried a company. His early feuds with Kenny Omega, Cody Rhodes, and Jon Moxley weren’t just storylines; they were building blocks for AEW’s credibility.
The Mentor
But perhaps Jericho’s biggest AEW contribution wasn’t in the ring—it was backstage. The Inner Circle and later the Jericho Appreciation Society weren’t just factions; they were classrooms. Sammy Guevara, Daniel Garcia, and Santana & Ortiz all benefited from the rub.
Even Jake Hager admitted that his AEW career only existed because of Jericho’s pull:
“Tony [Khan] didn’t want me there, but Chris did,” Hager said. “Working with the Inner Circle was one of my favorite things.”
Jericho embraced the role of mentor. “My job is to stand in the forefront because of my name and legacy,” he explained. “But the bottom line is to make sure those guys grow and get ahead.”
In an AEW locker room filled with rising stars, Jericho has been equal parts performer, leader, and safety net.
The Businessman’s Ripple Effect
Jericho’s move to AEW didn’t just help one company—it changed the industry.
“Chris Jericho is the Bobby Hull of wrestling,” he said recently, referencing the hockey legend’s jump to the WHA in 1972. “Because the moment I left to go to AEW, suddenly the entire salary structure changed.”
He’s not wrong. WWE’s contracts ballooned after 2019. Today, even entry-level performers earn seven figures, and top stars command deals north of $20 million. Jericho’s gamble forced the industry to raise its game—and its paychecks.
The WWE Temptation
Still, the pull of Stamford remains strong. Jericho has insisted he doesn’t need a Hall of Fame induction, but even he knows the power of closure.
“Of course, I would consider going back there,” he told The Times of India. “It just depends on what the situation is and what’s going on with me. Never say never.”
Fans have already begun fantasy-booking. A surprise Royal Rumble return. A WrestleMania match against Seth Rollins or Cody Rhodes. A Hall of Fame speech dripping with nostalgia.
“It would make people lose their minds,” one analyst said of a possible 2026 Rumble return.
For WWE, it’s an opportunity. With John Cena’s farewell tour ending, Roman Reigns scaling back, and Randy Orton near retirement, Jericho could be the perfect bridge.
The AEW Reality
But if Jericho walks, AEW loses more than a star. It loses part of its identity.
Since day one, Jericho has been the company’s north star. A locker room leader during CM Punk’s messy exit. A storyline driver when AEW needed stability. A name that networks and advertisers recognize.
Tony Khan acknowledged that impact when announcing Jericho’s contract extension through 2025, which included expanded responsibilities as producer and creative advisor:
“Chris Jericho long ago cemented his legacy… we’re fortunate to have his skills, charisma, knowledge, and insights in AEW for years to come.”
Without Jericho, AEW would have to recalibrate its leadership structure and storytelling hierarchy.
The Dilemma
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Stay in AEW: Jericho continues mentoring, influencing creative, and occasionally headlining, but risks repeating himself in a company where he’s already done it all.
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Return to WWE: He caps his career with a Hall of Fame induction and one final run, but leaves behind the promotion he helped build from the ground up.
It’s the ultimate wrestling choice: building the future versus honoring the past.
The Fans’ Voice
Online, the debate is as fiery as ever.
“He should be very proud of everything he helped build in AEW,” one fan wrote. “But the car has run outta gas.”
Others see unfinished business: “Bring him back home so he can finish his career, and he can get his spot in the Hall of Fame.”
Whatever he decides, the wrestling world is watching—because when Jericho makes a move, it rarely affects just him.
The Final Countdown
Chris Jericho has already done it all: wrestled in nearly every major promotion, created some of the most memorable characters in history, reinvented himself a dozen times, and put a new company on the map.
But he’s still not finished.
Whether the next countdown clock ends in Jacksonville or Stamford, Jericho’s choice will define not only his legacy—but the shape of wrestling’s next era.
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