Tony Khan needs to publicly call out Chris Jericho, says WWE veteran

Rumors continue to mount regarding Chris Jericho’s status in AEW and a potential move to WWE amid his ongoing hiatus. Now, former wrestling writer Vince Russo has suggested a very interesting move for Tony Khan to make during his negotiations with the former world champion.

For several months, Chris Jericho’s future has been a hot topic of speculation. Reports last year indicated that The Learning Tree could be on his way out of the Tony Khan-led promotion after his contract expires at the end of 2025, after which he was expected to return to WWE. However, that has not happened yet, and in fact a recent update indicated that the inaugural AEW World Champion’s profile is still on the company’s roster page, suggesting that he may not be quite finished with it.

Former WWE personalities Vince Russo and Jonathan Coachman recently discussed Chris Jericho’s situation with AEW on the latest edition of the show. Coach bro Podcast. Rousseau argued that the former JAS leader was likely increasing his negotiating power while negotiating his next contract with the two promotions.

“And coach, this is a very interesting thing, let’s be honest. If anyone knows Chris Jericho, coach and I know Chris Jericho. You’re talking about a very smart, very intelligent human being. So guys, let’s be honest, what’s probably going on here is Chris is probably playing two ends against the middle, and he knows damn well what he can get from Tony Khan.”

Russo also suggested that AEW CEO Tony Khan should publicly criticize Jericho over his negotiating tactics, while claiming that the All Elite president was actually in the veteran’s favor.

“But I’ve got to tell you something, coach. If I’m Tony Khan, I’m saying it, I’m saying it publicly… I’m saying, ‘Let’s be honest.’ “Chris Jericho plays both ends against the middle.” Because think about it from a negotiation standpoint, now you’re closing this out. Now you’re saying, “Chris, I know your game.” And can I tell you something? I think Vince McMahon would say something like that, but I think Tony is playing into Jericho’s hands. Because listen, at the end of the day, Chris Jericho is going to the highest bidder. “And Tony makes it clear, it makes him sick.”

Whether or not Jericho might show up at the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble as a big surprise return remains to be seen.

Tony Khan talks about Chris Jericho’s situation amid WWE rumors

Despite widespread speculation that he will appear on the first Monday Night RAW of 2026, Chris Jericho’s jump to WWE has yet to officially happen. During a recent interview with Adrian Hernandez, Tony Khan was asked about the current status of Y2J at his company. Without providing any specific answers about his contractual situation, TK praised Jericho and expressed his gratitude for his contributions to the growth and success of AEW.

“I love Chris so much, and I would say Chris is always a big part of AEW. This promotion is here to stay, and Chris Jericho is a big part of our history. We’re really proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish, and Chris is a key part of that.” [H/T RSN]

It remains to be seen what awaits Chris Jericho next in his professional wrestling journey.