Chris Jericho continues to keep the pro wrestling world guessing.
Jericho did not ultimately appear at the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia. Jericho’s WWE return has been a constant topic of speculation for months. Nothing concrete was planned, but many fans expected him to appear at WWE’s marquee event this weekend.
That did not come to fruition. According to a new report from Fightful (via Fightful Select), Jericho hasn’t even been factored into the company’s plans. It was noted that Jericho was “never brought up for the Raw on Netflix anniversary show” and was not pitched as a Royal Rumble participant. Sources claim that while there is still interest on WWE’s side, he’s not available yet.
As noted in a previous report, Jericho is still under AEW contract, and he remains on the AEW roster page. Fightful mentioned that Jericho’s original deal was scheduled to run through 2025, but it’s unclear if he had any time added due to an extension or freeze.
Prior to the 2026 Royal Rumble, PWInsider.com also reported that Jericho would not make his return. The outlet noted that there were no signs he was there and no one had heard him being discussed at the Royal Rumble event.
It’s unclear when Jericho will return to pro wrestling. He is set to tour with his band, Fozzy, in the United Kingdom from February 6 to February 21. This could make a return to the ring during that time unlikely (if not very difficult).
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