Fans expecting to see Y2J on the first Raw of 2026 were left disappointed, but it appears the absence was by design.
Despite Raw General Manager Adam Pearce teasing a major return and the Brooklyn crowd chanting “Y2J” throughout the night, Chris Jericho did not appear. According to PWInsider, the former AEW World Champion was never scheduled for the show and was actually in Los Angeles on Monday.
Speculation regarding Jericho’s status has been rampant following the expiration of his AEW contract at the end of 2025. However, his actual employment status remains murky. Jericho is still listed on the AEW roster page, and Fightful Select reports that there has been no internal memo issued regarding his departure. Furthermore, his name has reportedly not been brought up in WWE creative meetings.
The tease by Adam Pearce is now being viewed as a promotional tactic to drive last-minute ticket sales for the Barclays Center show. If so, it was successful, as reports indicate there was a “massive line for the box office” when the venue opened.
With the Royal Rumble approaching later this month, the “Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla” remains the hottest free agent—or perhaps employed star—in the business.
