More On Chris Jericho Choosing AEW Over WWE

Chris Jericho returned to AEW a week and a half ago, shocking fans with it emerging that he’d re-signed with the promotion, agreeing a new deal despite heavy rumours over the last year that he was likely heading for a WWE return. It was revealed after his AEW Dynamite return that WWE’s desire to have Jericho return solely for a retirement tour played into his decision to stick with AEW. More has now been learned on Jericho’s decision-making.

It has been noted by Fightful Select that conversations were in fact held between Chris Jericho and WWE, with Jericho himself reportedly telling those around him as recently as the back end of 2025 that he was open about a return. However, Jericho had the belief that WWE would require him to end a number of his outside projects, whereas AEW have always been more open to allowing talent to engage in projects away from professional wrestling. 

More has also been learned on his new presentation in AEW, with it noted that the decision to have him largely addressed and billed as “Jericho” is something that has come from the man himself.