Update Emerges On Chris Jericho’s AEW Status

Chris Jericho’s future in AEW may be more complicated than it first appeared, with a new report suggesting his deal could be in an unusual state behind the scenes.

Questions about the veteran star’s next move have been growing for months, and fresh details now indicate his contract situation may not be as straightforward as expected. According to a report from Fightful Select, people around Chris Jericho and within AEW reportedly believe the company froze his contract after he took time off early last year. The outlet noted that it has asked AEW “a number of times” in an official capacity whether Jericho had left the promotion, but has yet to receive a response.

Jericho’s profile remains active on AEW’s official website, and no internal memo has reportedly been issued about his departure, which Fightful says is standard procedure within the company when talent leaves.

When Was It Rumoured That Chris Jericho’s AEW Deal Would End?

Speculation about Chris Jericho’s future has been building since it became known that his deal was due to expire at the end of 2025. In November, reports surfaced claiming WWE had made an offer centred around a retirement storyline. The following month, Jericho addressed the uncertainty, saying he was “pretty sure” he would be wrestling somewhere in 2026.

Jericho has been with AEW since the company’s launch in 2019, becoming its first world champion and one of its most recognisable stars. His last appearance on AEW television came in April 2025, when he told Big Bill and Bryan Keith, his Learning Tree associates, that he would be taking time off.