Jericho and Owens meet at Tampa NHL game, fueling WWE return talk

Chris Jericho reunited with former WWE colleague Kevin Owens at an NHL game in Tampa on Friday night, posting a photo from the stands at Benchmark International Arena of the two sitting together and captioning it "Best Friends!" The meeting, during the Tampa Bay Lightning’s matchup with the Dallas Stars, comes amid renewed scrutiny of Jericho’s wrestling future after an extended absence from in-ring competition.

Jericho has not appeared on AEW television since April and last wrestled at the Dynasty pay-per-view in April 2025. His current contract with AEW is widely reported to expire at the end of 2025, and the timing of the Tampa reunion has prompted fan speculation about whether he might return to WWE once that deal lapses. Jericho has not publicly announced a plan to change promotions.

Jericho addressed his status in recent comments, saying he is still with AEW. AEW President Tony Khan praised Jericho’s contributions to the promotion and said he is valued and welcome there. Those public statements make clear that, for now, Jericho remains affiliated with AEW even as talk about his next move continues.

Owens, who was Jericho’s on-screen partner and later rival during a...