Chris Jericho signed a three year contract with All Elite Wrestling that is, as it turns out, an exclusive deal. That doesn’t mean he won’t still work with other promotions, assuming AEW decides to work with said promotions, but WWE will not be included in that.
As he explained to Chris Van Vliet, he’s done with WWE for at least the duration of his deal:
”Well, I mean, maybe in three years I might go there or be associated with them or whatever. But for right now, for the next three years, it’s AEW. That’s where I’m signed, and that’s the contract that I have.”
But what about going back when that contract is up?
”My career, I never expected it to go this long. Then 2016 came around and the thing with Kevin Owens started, which was just ridiculously popular. Suddenly Chris Jericho’s name value is bigger than ever. Then the opportunity to do Alpha vs. Omega, Kenny vs. Jericho at the Tokyo Dome. Suddenly from a business standpoint now Jericho is making a difference to help this company in New Japan make some real inroads in the States. Then, like I said, all these other things happened to where I had this great year in Japan, it was only supposed to be one show but then I signed on for three more matches. Then the cruise comes up and I need a main event for that, so I do that match. I never really expected to still be wrestling but to be wrestling at the highest of levels with my name bigger now than it’s ever been, who knows, man? I don’t ever really think about what I’m going to be doing in the future. If I finish my career with the WWE or AEW, my time in WWE is cemented, if I go back or not. It’s not like it was back in the day when you’re black balled for life and ‘you’ll never hear the name Chris Jericho again.’ It’s not like that. So whether I go back or not, I mean, I’m still always a part of the WWE, for sure.”
He’ll surely go back, because they all go back, because it only makes sense that he eventually returns. He talks like a guy who knows that too.