If Chris Jericho is WWE-bound...
Plus–there is new world champ in AEW
The Sunday Notes column is available each week to all premium subscribers.
In this edition:
If Chris Jericho is WWE-bound…
Takeaways from AEW’s Worlds End
Two world titles matches in WWE should have drastically different results
If Chris Jericho is WWE-bound…
Prepare for a homecoming.
Alex McCarthy reported yesterday that Chris Jericho becomes a free agent once the ball drops and 2026 begins. Even more than that, McCarthy wrote, is that Jericho is expected back in WWE. The most likely dates for his return are either the January 5 edition of Raw on Netflix or later that month at the Royal Rumble.
If the report is true, Jericho will return to WWE for the first time since 2018. After helping establish AEW as its first-ever world champion and producing some viral moments in Japan (particularly matches against Kenny Omega and Tetsuya Naito in 2018 and 2019, then his 2020 bout at Wrestle Kingdom vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi), Jericho is even more well-traveled than he was when he wrestled in WWE’s Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia seven years ago.
Reuniting with WWE is in wrestling’s best interests. The circumstances are different, but the crowd had turned on Cody Rhodes in AEW before he left for WWE. There are similarities with Jericho, who needs a change of territory as soon as possible. Which matchups for Jericho excite anyone in AEW? Since the inception of the company, where he helped bring life to Dynamite, Jericho has wrestled the vast majority of the roster, including multiple runs as Ring of Honor’s world champ. His most recent match took place in April against Bandido.
But in WWE, Jericho will be a hot commodity.
There the potential exists for Jericho to wrestle fresh opponents like Dom Mysterio, Gunther, and Carmelo Hayes, as well as reunite with (or against) Kevin Owens and AJ Styles. Of course, there are also main event caliber bouts against Roman Reigns, CM Punk, and Cody Rhodes. The move is exactly what Jericho, 55, needs to have one more run on top in his legendary career.
Jericho has been away long enough. He helped establish AEW, as well as created some enduring moments in Japan while away from WWE. But the time has come.
And, fittingly, it looks like the countdown is on.
MJF now a two-time world champ in AEW
For the first time since December of 2023, MJF is back on top of AEW.
Following his 406-day reign as champ, MJF dropped the belt to Samoa Joe two years ago at Worlds End. In the main event of last night’s Worlds End pay-per-view, MJF regained the belt and a measure of redemption when he pinned Joe right after the 20-minute mark. This was a four-way, also featuring Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland, and MJF was only added during the build to the match once he cashed in the world title contract he won this past July at the Casino Gauntlet match. As soon as that happened, he became the favorite to win.
