Category: WWE

Report On Chris Jericho’s AEW Status After Possible WWE Return Tease

Chris Jericho’s name continues to hover over wrestling headlines as fans speculate about a possible WWE return, but a new report suggests the situation may be far less straightforward than social media buzz would have you believe.

With WWE kicking off the new year and the road to the Royal Rumble officially underway, rumors picked up steam that Jericho could be on his way back to “Raw.” However, Fightful Select is reporting that there has been no indication from within AEW that Jericho has left the company. In fact, sources told the outlet that Jericho remains under contract.

Jericho reportedly re-signed with AEW following All Out 2022, with the deal said to run through 2026. While the former AEW World Champion has been absent from AEW television for much of the past year, his hiatus was written into storyline. After dropping the ROH World Championship to Bandido at Dynasty, Jericho told Big Bill and Bryan Keith that he needed to step away until his Learning Tree stable got itself back on track. Whether that time off resulted in any contract changes remains unclear.

Another notable detail is that Jericho is still listed on AEW’s official roster page. This stands out even more after multiple talents were quietly removed earlier this week following the expiration of their contracts. Fightful also attempted to get confirmation directly from AEW regarding Jericho’s status but reportedly received no response.

On the WWE side, sources told Fightful that Jericho was not part of creative discussions and was not included in plans for Monday’s episode of “Raw,” at least from what they had seen. That said, even those within WWE acknowledged that surprises happen and that misinformation isn’t exactly rare in wrestling circles.

Fueling the speculation further, WWE appeared to have some fun with fans when “Raw” General Manager Adam Pearce used the phrase “who can break down the walls” in a social media video promoting the show — a clear nod to Jericho’s iconic entrance theme. Despite the tease, both Fightful and PWInsider Elite reported that Jericho was not backstage at the Barclays Center for the show.

For now, the evidence points to Jericho still being an AEW talent, with WWE teases likely serving more as playful bait than confirmation of anything imminent. As always with Chris Jericho, though, the line between storyline and reality is never entirely clear — and that’s exactly how he likes it.

WWE RAW GM Adam Pearce Uses Interesting Phrase In Preview Video – Fans Are Now Buzzing

WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce may have dropped an unexpected nugget that has wrestling fans buzzing ahead of this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw.

Pearce took to social media to promote the upcoming show, which doubles as Raw’s one-year anniversary on Netflix, and did so in a casual video filmed while walking his dog. While running down the card, Pearce used a phrase that instantly caught the attention of longtime fans: “break down the walls.”

The line, of course, is famously associated with Chris Jericho, and its use immediately sparked speculation online about whether the former multi-time world champion could be on WWE’s radar. Jericho has been absent from AEW television for months, with reports suggesting he’s nearing the end of his current deal, leaving plenty of room for rumors to swirl.

In the video, Pearce highlighted several major talking points for the night, including Liv Morgan’s first singles match in six months as she takes on Lyra Valkyria. He also emphasized that Raw will feature three championship bouts, with particular focus on the Women’s Tag Team Championship clash. Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley are set to challenge the Kabuki Warriors in what Pearce described as a high-stakes showdown for the gold.

Whether Pearce’s wording was a playful coincidence or a subtle tease remains to be seen. WWE has a long history of leaning into fan speculation, and even a small reference is enough to set the internet alight — especially when it involves a name as big as Jericho’s.

What is confirmed is that the first Raw of 2026 will take place at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, and WWE is clearly positioning the show as a major milestone episode. Between the stacked card, championship implications, and intriguing choice of words from Raw’s on-screen authority figure, Monday night is shaping up to be one worth watching.

WWE Raw Preview 1/5/2026

WWE Raw airs live tonight on Netflix from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York with a start time of 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT.

  • World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Bron Breakker
  • WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Maxxine Dupri (c) vs. Becky Lynch
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Title Match: The Kabuki Warriors (c) vs. Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky
  • Raw is Stranger Things – (Stranger Things and WWE crossover)
  • Speculation on if Chris Jericho will return to WWE tonight

The Rock Is In Talks With WWE For A Match At WrestleMania 43 – Final Match Of Career?

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson may be sitting out WrestleMania 42, but that doesn’t mean WWE is done trying to get him back between the ropes. In fact, a new report suggests the company already has its sights set on a much bigger stage for The Rock’s potential return — and it could come a year later in Saudi Arabia.

According to Andrew Baydala, WWE has reopened discussions with Johnson, though not for this year’s WrestleMania. Instead, the offer on the table is for WrestleMania 43, which is currently planned to take place in Riyadh in 2027. While nothing has been finalized, the belief is that WWE sees this event as a possible capstone to The Rock’s in-ring career. At this point, Johnson is said to be weighing his options and has not committed either way.

The report comes after The Rock’s high-profile return to WWE television earlier in 2025. During that run, he was heavily involved in the angle that led to John Cena’s stunning heel turn at Elimination Chamber in Toronto. That storyline fueled speculation that The Rock would wrestle at WrestleMania, but those plans never materialized, with Johnson stepping away due to a mix of personal priorities and creative considerations.

If an agreement is reached for WrestleMania 43, the Riyadh show could be positioned as a historic moment — potentially the final match of one of the most influential figures the industry has ever seen. For now, WWE appears content to play the long game, hoping the right setting and timing will convince The Rock to lace up his boots one last time on the biggest stage possible.

Matt Cardona Is Officially Back In WWE On The SmackDown Roster

Matt Cardona made a surprise in-ring return to WWE SmackDown on Friday night, competing in a New Year’s-themed episode and picking up his first win on WWE television in more than six years. The former Zack Ryder squared off against Kit Wilson in a singles bout, marking another notable chapter in Cardona’s ongoing reintroduction to WWE audiences.

Wilson came out aggressively at the opening bell, using a Corkscrew Elbow to seize early control. Cardona weathered the storm and fired back with a clothesline to swing momentum briefly in his favor, but Wilson’s ring awareness allowed him to regain the upper hand by knocking Cardona off the ropes and keeping him grounded. The match remained competitive throughout, with both men trading advantages as the pace picked up.

Cardona came close to sealing the deal with a Double Underhook Powerbomb that nearly earned him the three-count. Wilson answered back by attempting his Tourniquet finisher, but Cardona managed to survive. The turning point came when Wilson missed a strike in the corner, opening the door for Cardona to capitalize. Moments later, Cardona connected with the Rough Ryder to score the pinfall victory.

Following the match, commentary from Michael Cole confirmed that Cardona is officially part of the SmackDown roster. The appearance continues a recent run that has included a match on NXT against Josh Briggs and involvement in the “Last Time Is Now” tournament. Prior to this stretch, Cardona had not competed in a WWE ring since 2020.

Since leaving WWE, Cardona has built a high-profile run across multiple promotions, including AEW, IMPACT/TNA, GCW, and Ring of Honor, reinventing himself as one of the most prominent independent stars in the industry. Interestingly, while he was introduced as Matt Cardona on SmackDown, his entrance video briefly displayed the Zack Ryder name, and his finishing move was called the Rough Ryder rather than its independent-era name, Radio Silence.

Those details leave some unanswered questions about Cardona’s presentation going forward. Whether WWE fully embraces his post-WWE persona, returns him to the Zack Ryder identity, or blends elements of both remains to be seen as his SmackDown run continues.

WWE SmackDown Preview 1/2/2026

WWE SmackDown airs tonight on the USA Network in the United States and Netflix internationally, live from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.

WWE SmackDown moves back to 3 Hours starting tonight.

  • Ambulance Match: Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black
  • 8-Woman Tag Team Match: Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY vs. Nia Jax, Lash Legend & The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane)
  • Jade Cargill vs. Michin
  • Appearances by Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, The Street Profits, Drew McIntyre, and Solo Sikoa

News On WWE & TNA Partnership

The working relationship between WWE and TNA Wrestling doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. In fact, all signs point to the partnership becoming an even bigger part of the wrestling landscape over the next several years.

According to recent reports, WWE and TNA are planning to extend their current multi-year agreement through at least 2028. The two sides first began collaborating in early 2025, and what started as a bold experiment has quickly evolved into one of the most talked-about cross-promotional efforts in modern wrestling.

The results so far have been hard to ignore. Talent from both rosters have moved fluidly between companies, creating memorable moments that benefitted everyone involved. The Hardy Boyz making history by holding both the NXT and TNA Tag Team Championships was a major headline, while Joe Hendry stepping into a WrestleMania 41 spotlight opposite Randy Orton gave TNA unprecedented exposure on WWE’s biggest stage.

Other crossover matches have also helped legitimize the partnership. Moose challenging Ethan Page for the NXT North American Championship blurred brand lines even further, and Leon Slater reportedly turned heads backstage with his performance during John Cena’s farewell appearance at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

There was some recent speculation that TNA’s new television deal with AMC Networks could complicate matters. Instead, it appears to have done the opposite. TNA President Carlos Silva publicly confirmed that the WWE relationship remains intact and is expected to expand in 2026, easing concerns that the new media deal might force a change in direction.

According to Bodyslam+, both companies are extremely pleased with how the collaboration has played out. Internally, WWE and TNA reportedly view the partnership as a creative win that gives wrestlers fresh opportunities while keeping fans engaged with unexpected matchups and storylines.

Looking ahead, discussions are said to be ongoing regarding even deeper collaboration. Potential ideas include dual-branded events and possibly joint pay-per-view specials, which could push the partnership into uncharted territory as early as 2026.

With increased exposure for talent, growing fan interest, and strong business momentum on both sides, the WWE–TNA alliance is shaping up to be more than a short-term experiment. If plans hold, this partnership could remain a defining force in the wrestling industry for years to come.

WWE NXT Preview 12/30/2025

WWE NXT tonight on The CW.

  • NXT North American Championship: Ethan Page (c) vs. Moose
  • WWE Men’s Speed Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Lexis King vs. Tavion Heights
  • Je’Von Evans vs. Ricky Saints
  • Jacy Jayne vs. Wren Sinclair
  • Joe Hendry in concert
  • Year End Award winners revealed

Update On Chris Jericho’s AEW Status And Possible WWE Return

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 Returns From Injury On WWE Raw, Saves Rey Mysterio From The Vision

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.