Fans were shocked when Chris Jericho showed up out of nowhere on the most recent episode of AEW Dynamite. Many people thought he would move to World Wrestling Entertainment for one last run before he retired after being away from the company for almost a year.
Jericho chose to return to AEW instead and start a new chapter in his career. His appearance at the beginning of the special April Fool’s episode showed that he plans to stay with the company for a while. This week, the return quickly became one of the most talked-about things in professional wrestling.
A Strategic Return Before AEW’s Next Big Show
The timing could be one reason why Jericho is back. AEW is getting ready for its next pay-per-view event, AEW Dynasty, which will happen soon. Bringing back a famous star before a big show can make people more excited and bring in more viewers.
WWE is also gaining a lot of momentum for WrestleMania 42. To get people talking about the event, WWE often invites famous people and other special guests. Reports say that IShowSpeed, Jelly Roll, and maybe even Tom Brady will be there.
AEW can make its own lineup stronger and keep fans interested in its shows during a busy wrestling season by bringing Jericho back now.
Chance to work with AEW’s rising stars
While Jericho was gone, a number of new wrestlers joined AEW and quickly became well-known. Returning to the company gives him a chance to work with fresh talent and create new storylines.
Kyle Fletcher is one of the names that is getting a lot of attention. He has become a big star in the past few months. Mike Bailey and Josh Alexander are two other talented wrestlers who are also making a name for themselves.
The roster has grown with new members like David Finlay, The Rascalz, and Tommaso Ciampa. Jericho can stay busy and help train the next generation of stars by working with these performers.
Financial Factors May Have Played a Role
In professional sports and entertainment, money is often a big deal. Some wrestlers switch promotions because they get better pay or better contract terms.
Tony Khan, the president of AEW, has put a lot of money into building the company and bringing in top talent. A strong contract can make experienced wrestlers want to stay with the promotion.
In a lot of sports, athletes pick chances that will give them long-term stability and financial security. Jericho may have made his choice because he got a competitive offer that was equal to his value and experience.
Concerns About Chris Jericho Retirement Storylines in WWE
Jericho may have made his choice because of how WWE has recently handled retirement storylines. Gunther beat both John Cena and AJ Styles in the last few months, which meant they both had to stop competing.
Fans were moved by these moments, but some people thought the endings didn’t get the big stage they deserved. Jericho might have wanted to have more say over how his own career ends.
Staying in AEW gives him the freedom to keep working without feeling like he has to retire right away.
Loyalty to AEW Could Be the Biggest Reason
The most important reason Jericho came back may be that he is connected to AEW itself. He was a big part of starting the company and became its first world champion.
Jericho helped shape the promotion’s identity along with stars like Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega, and the tag team The Young Bucks.
Being part of the company’s foundation may have made people very proud and loyal. Going back to AEW lets him keep helping the company he helped build.
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