Dave Meltzer has shared his thoughts on why Chris Jericho chose to return to AEW rather than head back to WWE for a retirement run.
Jericho made a surprise return on Wednesday's AEW Dynamite in his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, opening the show at Canada Life Centre and simply telling the crowd, "Winnipeg... AEW... I'm home." The 55-year-old had been away from AEW television since April 2025.
Meltzer: WWE Wanted Jericho for a Retirement Tour
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer revealed that WWE had interest in bringing Jericho back for a farewell run, though the specifics of those discussions remain unclear.
From the WWE standpoint, and I don't know what they told him. I know I was told that they wanted him for a retirement tour. And maybe that's not what he wanted, but I don't know," Meltzer said.
However, Meltzer noted that several factors likely played into Jericho's decision to stay with AEW, including financial considerations, creative input, and the potential for a longer career.
"With AEW, perhaps he was gonna get more longevity. There's a lot of advantages for AEW, and there's always money. He may have been offered more money in AEW," Meltzer said.
Creative Freedom vs. Better Audience
Meltzer acknowledged the tradeoffs Jericho likely weighed, particularly around audience reception compared to creative control.
I think that at this point, especially at the age he's at, he's gonna want to do what's creatively fulfilling and fun. AEW's a little bit of a risk in the sense of... He'll probably have more input into what he's gonna do in AEW than he would in WWE, but he'd have a better audience in WWE, I think for sure," Meltzer stated.
Meltzer added that while WWE's larger audience would have been an advantage, multiple elements factored into the decision: "The better audience, that is certainly part of the deal, but money is part of the deal. Creative freedom is part of the deal. What each side's plans are is part of the deal."
Jericho's Decision Was His Own
Ultimately, Meltzer emphasized that the choice was entirely in Jericho's hands.
I think there's less risk in WWE in the sense that the crowd is not gonna be as difficult for him in WWE. But this was his decision. His decision was AEW, and I'm sure that he considered every one of these points and many other points when making this decision," Meltzer concluded.
Jericho's contract situation had been a topic of speculation for months. His AEW deal was reportedly frozen during his absence, and he recently filed a trademark for "The Cornerstone," hinting at a new character direction.
With AEW Dynasty set for April 12 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, featuring MJF defending the AEW World Championship against Kenny Omega, it remains to be seen how Jericho fits into AEW's plans going forward.
