Chris Jericho didnt return at Royal Rumble 2026, despite weeks of hype and betting odds placing him as a favorite. It turns out hes still under contract with AEW, and never actually became a free agent.
This was revealed during Fightfuls February 1 post-Royal Rumble show, where Sean Ross Sapp confirmed that Jericho remains officially listed on AEWs rostera detail that all but shuts down any WWE comeback rumors.
The confusion began when reports suggested Jerichos contract expired at the end of 2025, leading to speculation that he was WWE-bound for a shock return in Riyadh. But that assumption was quickly walked back.
Interestingly, the backstage chatter about Jericho inside AEW has been practically nonexistent in recent months.
Meanwhile, Jericho has kept busy outside the ring. Hes set to appear in Apple TVs upcoming series Margos Got Money Troubles, which drops April 15, and his band Fozzy kicks off its Eyes On You tour in February. Those commitments alone make a surprise WWE return unlikelyat least for now.
So while fans were dreaming of a #30 shocker at the Rumble, the reality is far less dramatic. Jericho never left AEW, and unless something changes, thats exactly where hes staying.
Were you expecting Chris Jericho to show up in WWE? Or is his future better off in AEW and beyond the ring? Drop your thoughts in the commentswe want to hear what you think.
