Tag: Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho: TNA looked like ‘second biggest company in the world’ at Bound for Glory

Posted on by Joseph Currier

On the latest episode of his podcast, Chris Jericho made a comment that is sure to get people talking.

A new edition of Talk is Jericho debuted on Wednesday with The Hardys and Dudleys discussing their match from TNA Bound for Glory 2025. Jericho praised the bout and the presentation of Bound for Glory overall, saying TNA looked like the second biggest company in the world that night. Jericho compared Bound for Glory favorably to the presentation AEW had during its ECW Arena residency.

“I don’t think I’ve watched an Impact — sorry, a TNA — match in ages, if not this decade at all. I was so impressed,” Jericho said. “Well, first of all, you guys had a match. I didn’t even — it wasn’t even the match. It was the beginning part before you guys even locked up. It was the end part after it happened. Like that, I’m getting little goosebumps. That’s pro wrestling in its ultimate form. That’s all that matters is that emotion and that reaction.

“That was one thing. Two, that f*cking crowd looked huge. It looked huge. It was like a WWE-level crowd. The place was packed. I was watching this, and not saying anything out of school here, but comparing it to watching Dynamite when they were at the ECW Arena, which looked like a Tony Condello taping. Sorry, it did. TNA looked like the second biggest company in the world, you know, and that was amazing. And the presentation was amazing.”

Bound for Glory took place at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts on October 12. TNA announced a North American attendance record of 7,794 for the event. A detailed report on the attendance for the pay-per-view came out this week.

Jericho’s remark is sure to fuel the rumor mill about his next move in wrestling. For months now, it’s been rumored that the 55-year-old Jericho will be leaving AEW and returning to WWE when his AEW contract expires at the end of this year. If that does happen, it would mark Jericho’s first time back with WWE since 2018. Jericho has not confirmed anything regarding his next move, and AEW’s Tony Khan has continued to speak highly of him in media interviews.

The tables match between The Hardys and Dudleys at Bound for Glory was the final time the two iconic Attitude Era rivals will ever face each other. It was also D-Von Dudley’s retirement match. Matt & Jeff Hardy got the win to retain the TNA Tag Team titles.

Kenny Omega reflects on Chris Jericho’s 2017 NJPW return: ‘T’was a big night for me’

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Two of the most iconic pro-wrestlers of all-time, Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho, once shared a rivalry, still fondly remembered by wrestling fans.

At Wrestle Kingdom 12 in 2018, Kenny Omega defended his IWGP United States Championship against Chris Jericho in a ‘No Disqualification match’. Now, almost seven years later, Omega has opened up and shared his honest thoughts on the bout. Addressing the legendary feud on social media, The Cleaner said:

This moment and the match with Trent that preceded it meant a lot. T’was a big night for me. Wrestling for NJPW as a champion at that time didn’t allow for strike outs, or even base hits. You had to hit home-runs non stop or just accept that a top spot wasn’t meant for you. 8 years later I can easily say I had no clue just how high those stakes were. In a way, I’m glad I didn’t.

Eight years ago, at NJPW Power Struggle, Chris Jericho shockingly showed up and challenged Omega to a title match, setting the stage for their Wrestle Kingdom 12 clash. The duo again faced each other at Double or Nothing 2019, where Jericho reigned victorious.

Tony Khan on Chris Jericho’s AEW return

A few weeks ago, during an interview on Busted Open Radio, AEW President Tony Khan opened up on Jericho’s return to the promotion amid his ongoing absence.

“I love Chris Jericho. He’s a huge part of AEW, he’s been here since the beginning and, you know, we’ll see what happens here in the coming months. Chris is always a welcome, big part of AEW we’d always want to have here. So I am absolutely so grateful to Chris Jericho for everything he’s done.”

Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens meet up at NHL game

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Chris Jericho met up with an old friend (and former WWE WrestleMania opponent) on Thursday night.

Jericho and Kevin Owens were both at Benchmark International Arena to watch the Tampa Bay Lightning play the Dallas Stars in an NHL game. They shared their reunion on social media with Jericho captioning the photo: “Best Friends!”

At the moment, Jericho and Owens are contracted to different companies. But a WWE return for Jericho could happen in the near future. His AEW contract is set to expire at the end of this year. And while he hasn’t ruled out signing a new AEW deal, Jericho returning to WWE is heavily rumored. It would mark his first time back with the company since 2018.

Owens underwent neck surgery this July after the issue forced him out of action. It was a successful operation and Owens hopes to return to the WWE ring within the next year, but the timetable will be determined by how his body heals.

Earlier this month, Jericho celebrated the 35th anniversary of his pro wrestling debut. Working with Owens has been a highlight of his career, with their Festival of Friendship in 2017 being one of Jericho’s best-remembered segments. It led to a match between the two taking place at WrestleMania 33.

Chris Jericho abandons trademark for ‘The Jericho Vortex’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After submitting an application in 2024, Chris Jericho has abandoned his trademark filing for “The Jericho Vortex.”

The United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a notice of abandonment regarding the trademark on October 21. The reason for the abandonment is that Jericho did not submit a statement of use or an extension request in the six-month period after the trademark was officially allowed.

Jericho was using “The Jericho Vortex” in a tongue-in-cheek way after fans had adopted the term as a way of saying his AEW opponents were worse off after facing him. Jericho did not believe that was true, saying those he worked with usually ended up in a better place than they were previously.

The trademark was to cover the following goods and services:

Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, televised appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; Providing online interviews featuring a professional wrestling and sports entertainment personality in the field of professional wrestling and sports entertainment for entertainment purposes

At the end of 2025, Jericho’s contract with AEW is slated to expire. There are rumors that he could be headed back to WWE, though Jericho has not closed the door on re-signing with AEW in the times he’s spoken about his contract status.

Tony Khan on Chris Jericho: ‘We’ll see what happens here in the coming months’

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Tony Khan talks Chris Jericho.

In an interview with Busted Open Radio, Khan was asked about Chris Jericho’s status with the company as reports indicate he may be looking at a WWE return. Khan said he’ll take a wait and see approach, but Jericho is always welcome in AEW.

“I love Chris Jericho. He’s a huge part of AEW, he’s been here since the beginning and, you know, we’ll see what happens here in the coming months,” he said. “Chris is always a welcome, big part of AEW we’d always want to have here. So I am absolutely so grateful to Chris Jericho for everything he’s done.”

Jericho hasn’t been seen on AEW television since April, abandoning Learning Tree stablemates Big Bill and Bryan Keith. Speculation has been mounting about his future, particularly this week when Jericho announced talent for his 2026 cruise which didn’t feature any AEW talent. In this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it was noted that Jericho is either heading to WWE or has people thinking he may return.

“He’s either going to WWE or he wants people to think he’s going to WWE to up his price from each side,” Meltzer wrote. “The idea is that Jericho is coming for a retirement tour and Hall of Fame induction. It also should be pointed out the cruise has nobody from WWE either but I don’t know that WWE would allow their talent to go even if he was with the company.”

Jericho last wrestled for the WWE in 2018. Before officially signing with AEW in 2019, he made appearances for New Japan Pro Wrestling, winning the IWGP Intercontinental title at one point.

Update on potential Chris Jericho WWE return

Posted on by Joseph Currier

If Chris Jericho returns to WWE, his run will likely include an induction into the company’s Hall of Fame.

Rumors of a Jericho WWE return have been going on for months now. Jericho himself has not given any definitive answers, leaving the door open to either stay with AEW or return to WWE when his AEW contract expires at the end of 2025. But a potential spoiler regarding his decision appeared to emerge this week when no AEW wrestlers were listed among the first batch of advertised names for his 2026 cruise.

“Chris Jericho announced his next Jericho Cruise from November 7 to 11 in 2026 from Miami to the Bahamas and the lists of guests has nobody from AEW. Now it’s been noted to me the last time he did a cruise he announced nobody from AEW until a few months out,” Dave Meltzer wrote while providing an update on the situation in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Meltzer added that, if Jericho does end up going back to WWE, the promotion’s idea is for him to have a retirement tour and be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“He’s either going to WWE or he wants people to think he’s going to WWE to up his price from each side,” Meltzer wrote. “The idea is that Jericho is coming for a retirement tour and Hall of Fame induction. It also should be pointed out the cruise has nobody from WWE either but I don’t know that WWE would allow their talent to go even if he was with the company.”

In the past, Jericho has mentioned that a WWE Hall of Fame induction isn’t something that means that much to him. He does not want to go into any Hall of Fame while still an active in-ring performer.

Jericho — a star in WWE for nearly 20 years after arriving in 1999 — has not wrestled for the company since 2018. He joined AEW when the promotion was founded and was the first-ever AEW World Champion. Since April of this year, though, he’s been away from AEW TV. Tony Khan has spoken highly of Jericho amid the contract rumors and said that he would like to have Jericho back in AEW.

Chris Jericho announces talent for 2026 cruise, no AEW names listed

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Chris Jericho has begun the promotional push for his next Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Rager at Sea cruise — and the first names announced are sure to raise questions about his wrestling future.

The cruise is set to take place from November 7-11, 2026, sailing from Miami, Florida to the Bahamas. Jericho has made the cruise a nearly annual tradition dating back to 2018. And since 2020, Jericho and AEW have partnered together to have some of the promotion’s wrestlers appear on the cruise. But there are no AEW names (other than Jericho) listed among the first batch of talent for the 2026 edition.

Here are the wrestlers, legends, and media members advertised to be part of the 2026 cruise:

  • Chris Jericho
  • Jeff Hardy
  • Saraya
  • The Great Muta
  • Dave LaGreca, Nic Nemeth, and Bully Ray of SiriusXM’s Pro Wrestling Nation
  • Elayna Black (the former Cora Jade)
  • Ted DiBiase
  • Carlito
  • Shotzi Blackheart
  • Fred Ottman (Tugboat)
  • Vampiro
  • Marcus Bagwell
  • The Blue Meanie
  • AJ Francis
  • Natalia Markova
  • Victoria Crawford (the former Alicia Fox)
  • Mo Jabari
  • Indi Hartwell
  • Lacey Lane
  • Kacy Catanzaro
  • Ricky Knight Jr.
  • Sonny Onoo
  • Chris Van Vliet
  • Gabby LaSpisa

By the time the cruise takes place, we’ll know how things sorted out with Jericho’s contract situation. He’s slated to become a free agent at the start of 2026 when his AEW deal expires. There are rumors that he could be headed back to WWE, but Jericho has not confirmed what his next move will be. He’s publicly left the door open to either staying with AEW or returning to WWE.

Jericho joined AEW when it launched in 2019 and was the promotion’s first-ever World Champion. In 2020, AEW presented an episode of Dynamite from the Jericho cruise.

Since April of this year, Jericho has been off AEW TV since deciding to take a break amid negative crowd reactions he was receiving.

A pre-sale for the 2026 cruise is now underway. It’s the seventh cruise that Jericho and event company Sixthman have partnered together for.

Chris Jericho on what’s next for him: ‘We don’t know, right?’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Chris Jericho isn’t providing any answers amid ongoing fan speculation about his wrestling future.

Jericho’s AEW contract is slated to expire at the end of the year, and it remains to be seen whether he’ll remain with AEW or return to WWE. In celebration of the 35th anniversary of his pro wrestling debut, Jericho was a guest on Busted Open Radio this week and looked back at some of his greatest moments. He gave a very brief answer when asked what he thinks will be next for him.

““Yeah, I mean, we don’t know, right?,” Jericho said. “We’ll just have to [wait and see]….”

Though we don’t know which promotion he’ll be wrestling for, Jericho has promised that his wrestling career is not over yet. He did address the rumors about his contract in an interview with the Daily Mail in September, saying he’s still with AEW and won’t be going anywhere for a while. He did leave the door open for a potential WWE return, though, saying he wouldn’t be opposed to it.

If he does return to WWE, it would be Jericho’s first time competing for the company since 2018.

Jericho joined AEW when the promotion was founded in 2019 and was the first-ever AEW World Champion. Back in April of this year, he took a break from AEW programming and has not returned yet. Tony Khan has expressed respect for Jericho and said he would like to have him back in AEW soon.

Chris Jericho celebrates 35th anniversary of debut: ‘It ain’t over yet!’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

On Thursday, Chris Jericho took a moment to celebrate the 35th anniversary of his pro wrestling debut.

Jericho had his first wrestling match in Ponoka, Alberta, Canada on this date in 1990. It was a 10-minute draw against Lance Storm — and Jericho writes that he still remembers every single detail of the bout to this day.

“Crazy to think it’s been 35 years to the day of my VERY FIRST MATCH! On Oct 2, 1990 I faced [Lance Storm in Ponoka, Alberta at the #PonokaMooseHall, in front of about 85 people,” Jericho posted on Instagram. “The match ended in a ten minute draw and I remember every little thing as if it happened only yesterday! (I got paid 30 dollars….a 20 & a 10!). I have had a wonderful, amazing, one in a million career since then…. and I wanna thank all of YOU from around the entire world for joining me for certain parts …or even all of it! And the Good news is….IT AIN’T OVER YET!”

Jericho’s time in the industry has taken him from Canada to stardom in the United States, Mexico, Japan, and beyond. The journey continues, but Jericho’s next step remains unknown. With his AEW contract coming up at the end of the year, there are rumors Jericho could return to WWE in early 2026.

Last month, Jericho addressed those rumors while speaking with the Daily Mail.

“The best thing that can happen in wrestling is AEW. And the fact that there’s two huge promotions that you can choose from just makes it better for the guys, it makes it better for the fans, and everybody in between,” he said. “So I’m not going anywhere for a while, I’m still with AEW for right now. Would I go back to WWE? I wouldn’t be opposed to it. We just have to see what happens. But the best thing that can happen is that you have two great teams that you can play for, and that just makes everything bigger and more exciting.”

Jericho has been off AEW programming since April of this year, when he decided to take a break amid negative crowd reactions he was receiving. He’s been with AEW since the promotion launched and has not competed for WWE since 2018.

Tony Khan has stated that he would like to have Jericho back in AEW and is hopeful that it will happen.

Tony Khan wants Chris Jericho back in AEW ‘hopefully soon’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

During a radio interview this week, Tony Khan reiterated that he hopes to have Chris Jericho back in AEW.

Amid rumors that Jericho could be headed for a WWE return, Khan voiced last month that he has great respect for Jericho and would love for him to be back in AEW if and when the time presents itself. He offered a slightly more expansive answer on Thursday while speaking with The Torg and Elliott Show, adding that he wants to have Jericho back “hopefully soon.”

“Well, Chris Jericho’s been here since the very beginning. And I have so much great respect for Chris Jericho. I do really have to say I would love to have Chris Jericho in AEW any time,” Khan said. “Yeah, we absolutely want Chris Jericho back in AEW, and hopefully soon. He’s been great with us and he’s been with us since the very first event. The very first AEW World Champion. And Chris is a huge part of the history of AEW and still in great shape, still a great wrestler.”

When pressed for a more direct answer on whether Jericho will return to an AEW ring, Khan said to stay tuned.

“Well, I think you got to stay tuned to the show,” Khan responded. “That’s one of the reasons you watch the wrestling show is to see the returns, and we just talked at the beginning of the call about, you know, keeping secrets and stuff like that, so I think stay tuned.”

Jericho’s AEW contract is set to expire at the end of this year. He’s been off AEW programming for several months since taking a break in April, when he chose to take some time away during a point where he was receiving negative crowd reactions.

The last time Jericho wrestled for WWE was in 2018. He addressed the return rumors in a recent interview with the Daily Mail.

“So I’m not going anywhere for a while, I’m still with AEW for right now. Would I go back to WWE? I wouldn’t be opposed to it. We just have to see what happens,” the 54-year-old Jericho said. “But the best thing that can happen is that you have two great teams that you can play for, and that just makes everything bigger and more exciting.”

Chris Jericho addresses WWE return rumors

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Chris Jericho is keeping his options open.

Speaking to The Daily Mail, Jericho said that while he isn’t going anywhere at the moment, he isn’t opposed to the idea of a WWE return one day.

“The best thing that can happen in wrestling is AEW. And the fact that there’s two huge promotions that you can choose from just makes it better for the guys, it makes it better for the fans, and everybody in between,” he said. “So I’m not going anywhere for a while, I’m still with AEW for right now. Would I go back to WWE? I wouldn’t be opposed to it. We just have to see what happens. But the best thing that can happen is that you have two great teams that you can play for, and that just makes everything bigger and more exciting.”

Jericho is slated to become a free agent at the end of this year, fueling speculation on his future. Dave Meltzer has reported that some in AEW expect Jericho to return to WWE once his AEW contract expires. He has been off television since April, choosing to take time off.

Ric Flair doubts Chris Jericho would get Cena-type WWE sendoff

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Ric Flair doubts that Chris Jericho would get a John Cena-type sendoff if he were to return to WWE.

While speaking with Escapist Magazine for a new interview, Flair was asked about the rumors that Jericho could return to WWE when his AEW contract expires at the end of this year. Flair spoke highly of Jericho as a person and performer but said he doesn’t think WWE would give him a final run like Cena is currently on.

“Well, of course I do because Chris has meant a lot to the business,” Flair responded when asked if he thinks Jericho deserves a final WWE run. “But I don’t think he’ll get it. I’m sure he’ll go to the Hall of Fame. I mean, he’s been a Hall of Fame athlete, human being, wrestler, everything. But I would doubt very seriously if he’d get the kind of deal that John Cena got. I could be wrong. I would enjoy it. But John had a level of popularity very similar to The Rock’s. He was huge. Everyone loved him. It might be a bit of a stretch to see him back in there, but you never know.”

Flair and Jericho have been co-workers in WCW, WWE, and AEW, and Flair still remains under AEW contract despite only very making infrequent appearances since being part of Sting’s retirement run.

A WWE return would mark Jericho’s first time back with the company in more than seven years. He joined AEW at its 2019 launch and was the promotion’s inaugural World Champion. For much of 2025, Jericho has been off AEW programming after taking a break in April amid negative crowd reactions he was receiving.

Tony Khan expressed last week that he would love to have Jericho back if and when the time presents itself, saying that Jericho is “always in the highest of standing in AEW or ROH.”

Tony Khan: I would love to have Chris Jericho back in AEW or ROH

Posted on by Josh Nason

Amid online rumors and discourse regarding Chris Jericho’s future in AEW and Ring of Honor, Tony Khan addressed whether he wants his first-ever AEW World Champion back in the company.

During a media call Thursday, Khan was asked about Jericho’s future and him potentially returning. Khan strongly put over Jericho’s legacy in AEW and ROH, that he’s grateful to Jericho, and thinks of the world of him.

“If and when the time presents itself, I would love to have him back. He’s always in the highest of standing in AEW or ROH,” Khan said.

Jericho’s contract expires at year’s end. He has been off AEW TV since April after driving away from The Learning Tree’s Big Bill & Bryan Keith, a faction that has been dropped. It was reported by our Dave Meltzer that Jericho decided that it was time for a break as he was touring with Fozzy at the time.

Meltzer reported last week that many within AEW expect Jericho to head to WWE when his contract is up. Jericho recently liked an Instagram post about him being open to a WWE return, which continued to fuel rumors about the situation.

Jericho has been with AEW since its inception in 2019, holding the World title once, the FTW title once, and the ROH World title twice.

Tony Khan ROH media call: Chris Jericho & Deonna Purrazzo’s futures, Philly unions

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

What was meant to be a 30-minute call between AEW/ROH head Tony Khan and the media to promote Friday’s Death Before Dishonor went into overtime due to an extended reply about the future of Deonna Purrazzo.

Full audio of the call is available below where he also talked about Chris Jericho and the Philadelphia union situation.

Khan was asked about why Purrazzo hasn’t been around and after dancing around answering the question, he finally got into it, confirming previous stories that she went to CMLL (last December) and “had an experience that wasn’t positive.”

He said that he wanted to work her back in at Death Before Dishonor, but that injuries and circumstances have affected the women’s Pure title tournament greatly “putting it mildly.” He said it’s ok if something doesn’t go well and if one match doesn’t go right, it doesn’t mean everything ends.

He confirmed she will be part of the tournament, but did not say whether she will work Friday’s show.

Women’s Pure title tournament updates

During the near 17-minute response about Purrazzo, Khan said that a quarter of the women that worked in the women’s casino gauntlet match ended up hurt afterward that appeared to affect the tournament.

He then said his bracket for the women’s Pure title tournament was set and then this week, he had to hold off on announcements due to injuries. He then talked about Queen Aminata and how her passport getting stolen affected plans for Wednesday, but that it looks like she will be free for Friday’s show.

He said Purrazzo, Aminata, and Serena Deeb are in the tournament and it sounded like the bracket could be revealed soon.

Chris Jericho’s AEW future

Amid online rumors and discourse regarding Jericho’s future and a possible jump to WWE when his deal ends at year’s end, Khan was asked about Jericho & potentially returning. Khan put over his legacy and that he’s grateful to Jericho and thinks of the world of him.

“If and when the time presents itself, I would love to have him back. He’s always in the highest of standing in AEW or ROH,” Khan said.

Philadelphia union controversy

Asked about the Philadelphia union issue regarding the 2300 Arena that arose Wednesday, Khan quickly said he has nothing to say on it.

Other Notes:

  • Khan said he had plans for Syuri in ROH, but she got hurt in her first appearance.
  • Khan said Nick Wayne will be back soon enough where there isn’t a need for an interim men’s ROH TV Champion.
  • Khan said there is nothing new on an ROH TV deal and that while he has had offers, any deal would have to make sense in “the big picture” with AEW and that he would hope any deal “would be in the framework of the AEW/WBD relationship.”

Click here to listen

Mr. Beast, Chris Jericho, more donate to Syko Stu GoFundMe campaign

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After saying that he wanted to help out Syko Stu in the wake of Raja Jackson’s attack, YouTuber Mr. Beast has followed through with a big donation.

Mr. Beast (Jimmy Donaldson) made a $10,000 donation today to a GoFundMe campaign to help Stu, whose real name is Stuart Smith. The campaign has raised more than $90,000 so far with the money going toward medical expenses, recovery support, and helping Stu with the loss of income he’s going to experience during his recovery.

The attack happened on Saturday at a show for KnokX Pro Wrestling in Los Angeles, with the promotion calling it a planned spot that turned into a “selfish, irresponsible act of violence.” Raja Jackson, the person who attacked Stu, is the son of UFC legend Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.

With the incident making international news, it caught the attention of Mr. Beast, who has the most-subscribed to channel on YouTube with more than 420 million subs on his main channel alone.

“Dang man, this hurts to see. Especially because I read he was a veteran that used wrestling as an outlet to get over ptsd,” Mr. Beast tweeted earlier this week. “Genuinely, if anyone connected to him knows of a way I can help please reach out. If his kid is a fan or I can help with hospital bills idk but I’ll help.”

Stu’s GoFundMe has also received a $2,500 donation from Chris Jericho and a $1,000 donation from Swerve Strickland. Rusev, Ariya Daivari, and NBA player Kristaps Porzingis are among the other donors.

In an update last night, Stu’s brother Andrew Smith said Stu is “currently conscious and able to talk but will have a difficult recovery ahead.” He noted that Stu appreciates all of the love and support he’s received.

KnokX Pro was part of the WWE ID program prior to having its affiliation pulled after the incident.

An investigation into the attack by the LAPD remains ongoing.