Chris Jericho returns to AEW

Chris Jericho made a stunning return to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) on Wednesday night after months of speculation over whether he would come back to the company he joined in 2019.

Jericho hadn’t been seen on AEW programming in nearly a year. He was last with The Learning Tree faction, but it disbanded soon after he lost the Ring of Honor World Heavyweight Championship to Bandido at last year’s AEW Dynasty pay-per-view.

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Chris Jericho is introduced during the “AEW Dynamite – Beach Break” taping on Jan. 26, 2022, at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland. (Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

As fans geared up for “Dynamite” in Winnipeg, Canada, Jericho’s music hit before the contract signing between Maxwell Jacob Friedman and Kenny Omega.

“Winnipeg … AEW … I’m home,” he said before walking out of the ring.

Jericho didn’t make any other declarations or call out anyone on the AEW roster. But his presence was felt in the city where he grew up.

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Chris Jericho attends the All Elite Wrestling panel during 2019 New York Comic Con at Jacob Javits Center on Oct. 4, 2019 in New York City. (Noam Galai/Getty Images for WarnerMedia Company)

There were months of speculation over Jericho’s future after he had been off AEW programming. Some pro wrestling fans were hoping he’d make a surprise WWE return at the Royal Rumble or another premium live event for the company.

But that didn’t turn out to be the case.

Chris Jericho appears during AEW Dynamite at Footprint Center on Feb. 22, 2023.  (Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)

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Jericho joined AEW in January 2019 and was a part of the company’s inaugural event, Double or Nothing. He is the first AEW world champion in the company’s history. He also held the FTW Championship and is a two-time Ring of Honor world champion.

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