Jericho's AEW future in focus as 2025 contract ends

Chris Jericho’s future in professional wrestling is the subject of growing speculation as his All Elite Wrestling contract approaches its end at the close of 2025. Jericho has not appeared on AEW television since April, and industry sources say several major promotions, including WWE, have expressed interest in signing him if he becomes a free agent. AEW leadership has publicly signaled it wants to keep him.

AEW chief executive Tony Khan said in a recent interview that Jericho remains central to the company and would always be welcome. "I love Chris Jericho. He's a huge part of AEW. He's been here since the beginning," Khan said, adding that Jericho was the promotion’s first world champion and has been a major figure in its history. Khan said he expects developments in the coming months but reiterated gratitude for Jericho’s contributions.

Sources familiar with negotiations and conversations told reporters there have been no confirmed direct talks between Jericho and WWE. However, multiple people inside WWE have discussed the idea of a return, and one company source said it would likely offer a lucrative contract worth several million dollars a year. The same source suggested...