AEW Dynamite New Year’s Smash live Wednesday Dec. 31 on TBS and HBO Max from the Liberty First Credit Union Arena in Omaha, Nebraska.
WWE NXT tonight on The CW.
Chris Jericho’s future in AEW appears to be up in the air, and it’s once again sparked serious talk about a potential return to WWE.
According to multiple reports, Jericho’s current deal with All Elite Wrestling is set to expire on December 31, 2025, unless a new agreement has already been finalized behind the scenes. As of now, there’s been no confirmation that an extension is in place.
What’s adding fuel to the speculation is chatter coming out of WWE circles. PWInsider reports that several WWE licensing partners are operating under the assumption that Jericho may soon be available for use on their products. WrestleVotes has also noted that some within WWE have been anticipating a Jericho comeback dating back to August of last year.
On the AEW side, Jericho hasn’t been seen on television since April 2025, when he suffered a loss to Bandido. Since that match, there’s reportedly been no creative direction for him, and his absence was especially noticeable at AEW’s Worlds End 2025 pay-per-view. With no on-screen role and no storyline movement, questions about his status have only intensified.
Outside the ring, Jericho has kept busy. He was recently spotted in Vancouver while working on an undisclosed Disney-related project. While details are scarce, it’s clear the former world champion is exploring opportunities beyond wrestling as his AEW contract winds down.
Jericho himself hasn’t exactly shut the door on WWE. During a December 27 YouTube livestream, he responded to questions about a return by saying, “You never know,” leaving plenty of room for interpretation. He has also previously mentioned that he expects to wrestle again “somewhere” in 2026.
Despite rumors circulating online, PWInsider has pushed back on claims that Jericho was set to appear on RAW this week, stating there was no credible sourcing behind those reports. Still, once his AEW deal expires at midnight on December 31, Jericho would officially be a free agent heading into the new year.
With WWE’s January 5, 2026 episode of RAW scheduled for the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, some fans believe that show could be the stage for Jericho’s return. If it happens, it would mark his first appearance with WWE since 2018 — and one of the more significant comeback moments in recent memory.
Penta is officially back, and he didn’t waste any time making an impact on Monday Night Raw.
The masked star made his return from injury during this week’s episode, rushing to the aid of Rey Mysterio after things broke down following Rey’s match with Austin Theory. Mysterio had the bout well in hand before Logan Paul inserted himself, tripping Rey as he went for the 619 and causing an immediate disqualification.
The numbers game quickly caught up to the WWE Hall of Famer, as Paul and Theory laid into Mysterio after the bell. That’s when Penta’s music hit, bringing the crowd to its feet as he sprinted to the ring and cleaned house, taking out both members of The Vision and evening the odds in a big way.
Penta had been absent from WWE programming since late November after suffering a shoulder injury on the November 24 episode of Raw. His quarterfinal match against Solo Sikoa in the “Last Time Is Now” tournament was abruptly stopped when Penta was hurt attempting a diving hurricanrana from the barricade. The referee called for the stoppage, awarding the match to Sikoa as medical officials checked on Penta.
The injury also forced Penta to miss a highly anticipated appearance at AAA’s Guerra de Titanes on December 20, where he was scheduled to reunite with his brother Rey Fenix as the Lucha Bros. Instead, Rey Mysterio stepped in as a replacement for that match.
Now cleared to compete again, Penta’s return instantly injects fresh energy into Raw and sets the stage for what looks like a growing issue with Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and The Vision. More importantly, it puts a dangerous ally back in Rey Mysterio’s corner — something their enemies may quickly regret.
WWE has officially confirmed that Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio is sidelined with an injury, and it doesn’t sound like he’ll be back anytime soon.
During Monday night’s episode of Raw, commentator Joe Tessitore announced that Mysterio is out “indefinitely” due to a shoulder injury. The situation was first hinted at earlier in the show when Liv Morgan mentioned backstage that Dominik would be gone “for a little while,” but the commentary team later made it clear that the absence is more serious than initially implied.
The injury reportedly occurred at AAA’s Guerra de Titanes event, where Dominik teamed with El Grande Americano against Rey Mysterio and Rey Fenix in the main event. According to reports, the shoulder issue happened during a DDT spot. Following that match, Dominik was noticeably absent from WWE’s holiday live event tour, further fueling speculation about his condition.
Earlier in the day, Bodyslam+ described the situation as an “injury scare,” noting that Dominik was in good spirits despite the setback. Still, WWE’s use of the word “indefinitely” suggests the company is preparing for a potentially extended absence.
At this point, WWE has not announced what this means for the Intercontinental Championship. Whether the title will be vacated, defended in Dominik’s absence, or put on hold remains to be seen. The situation is even more interesting considering Dominik is also the reigning AAA Mega Champion after defeating El Hijo del Vikingo at Worlds Collide back in September.
To make matters worse for Judgment Day, Dominik isn’t the only member dealing with health issues. JD McDonagh is also out of action as he continues to recover from surgery on his right hand, leaving the faction short-handed heading into the new year.
As always, we’ll keep an eye on updates regarding Dominik Mysterio’s recovery timeline and the future of the Intercontinental Title as more information becomes available.
WWE Raw airs live today on Netflix from the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida with a start time of 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT.
AEW WORLDS END QUICK RESULTS:
Sisters of Sin (Julia Hart & Skye Blue) def. Hyan & Maya World
Hart and Blue dominated early and weathered a brief comeback before finishing Hyan with an assisted swinging Rock Bottom to score the win.
Eddie Kingston def. Zack Gibson
Kingston outlasted Gibson in a gritty brawl, putting him away with a DDT. Post-match chaos followed until Angel Ortiz made a surprise return, chasing off the Grizzled Young Vets with his trademark Madball.
Bandido & Mascara Dorada def. Don Callis Family (Mark Davis & Rocky Romero)
A high-octane lucha showcase ended when Bandido drilled Romero with the 21-Plex to seal the victory.
JetSpeed & Jurassic Express def. Josh Alexander & The Demand
Despite early domination from the heels and an injured Luchasaurus being taken out, the dinosaur returned bandaged and furious, helping Jack Perry pin Ricochet after a running knee.
Kazuchika Okada def. Konosuke Takeshita
A brutal, technical masterpiece saw Okada survive Takeshita’s onslaught before using a hidden screwdriver shot—missed by the referee—to steal the win.
Jon Moxley def. Kyle Fletcher (Referee Stoppage)
Fletcher targeted Moxley’s leg relentlessly, but Mox survived everything thrown at him. A prolonged sleeper hold forced referee Bryce Remsburg to stop the match, advancing Moxley to the finals. Fletcher snapped afterward, attacking Moxley in frustration.
FTR (c) def. Bang Bang Gang
An all-out war filled with tables, trash cans, and interference ended with FTR crushing Austin Gunn with a stump piledriver onto the tag belts to retain.
Babes of Wrath (Harley Cameron & Willow Nightingale) (c) def. Athena & Mercedes Moné
Despite constant friction between Athena and Moné, the challengers nearly had it won—until Willow caught Mercedes with a sudden side cradle to retain. Post-match tension clearly lingered between Athena and Moné.
A violent, blood-soaked brawl saw both men busted open. Darby survived Kidd’s punishment and stole the win with a jackknife pin after an exhausting war.
Roderick Strong, The Conglomeration & Toni Storm def. Death Riders
Utter chaos ruled until Mark Briscoe planted Wheeler YUTA with a Jay Driller. Post-match celebrations grew with appearances from the Babes of Wrath, Mina Shirakawa, and Luther.
Kris Statlander (c) def. Jamie Hayter
A hard-hitting, evenly matched battle lived up to expectations. After surviving Hayter’s best shots, Statlander retained in a dramatic finish, proving once again why she remains champion.
Jon Moxley def. Kazuchika Okada (c)
Moxley finally conquered Okada. Surviving Rainmakers, low blows, and near-falls, Mox landed the Death Rider to win the Continental Classic and capture the Continental Championship. In a passionate post-match promo, Mox dedicated the victory to the entire AEW roster and the fans.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman def. Samoa Joe (c), “Hangman” Adam Page & Swerve Strickland
Absolute chaos closed the night. Interference from The Opps tilted the match multiple times, but in the end, MJF struck when it mattered most—delivering a low blow and Heatseeker to Samoa Joe to score the pin and reclaim the AEW World Championship.
WWE SmackDown airs tonight on the USA Network in the US and Netflix internationally, taped from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Despite ongoing speculation surrounding Warner Bros. Discovery’s future and the possible sale of its cable properties, AEW’s television situation appears to be on solid ground for the foreseeable future.
During a recent Fightful Select Q&A, Sean Ross Sapp addressed concerns from fans about what a potential WBD sale could mean for AEW programming on networks like TBS and TNT. According to Sapp, there’s currently little reason for alarm. Any sale of WBD’s cable assets is not expected to be finalized until late 2026 at the earliest, and AEW’s existing television deal already provides built-in protection through that period.
As it stands, AEW is guaranteed at least one more full year on its current agreement, with an additional option year that can be exercised. That structure is important, as it gives any potential new ownership flexibility. If a buyer sees value in AEW’s programming, they can simply trigger the option year and continue business as usual. If not, they can opt out without major financial risk.
One of the key factors working in AEW’s favor is its cost efficiency. Sapp noted that AEW covers its own production expenses, making the product relatively inexpensive for a network compared to scripted programming. In an era where cable networks are tightening budgets, wrestling remains attractive due to its steady ratings and loyal audience without the massive overhead costs of traditional television shows.
That balance of dependable viewership and low operational burden makes AEW an easy property to keep, even amid corporate restructuring or ownership changes. While Warner Bros. Discovery has not publicly commented on how a sale might impact its wrestling content, all signs point to continuity rather than disruption.
AEW President Tony Khan has also expressed optimism about the relationship, recently stating his hope that the partnership with WBD continues for at least the next two years. Given the contractual safeguards already in place and AEW’s value as a consistent cable draw, that confidence appears well-founded.
For now, AEW fans can breathe easy. Even with uncertainty surrounding the broader media landscape, Dynamite and Collision don’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.
AEW Worlds End – Saturday December 27, 2025 – Now Arena – Chicago, IL
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