Chris Jericho is back. The former AEW World Champion made his long-awaited return to AEW television on the April 1 episode of Dynamite, walking out to a massive crowd reaction in the middle of what was supposed to be the contract signing between MJF and Kenny Omega for their AEW Dynasty World Championship match.
Tony Schiavone was already in the ring setting up the signing when Jericho’s music hit. Neither MJF nor Omega had made their entrances yet — Jericho essentially hijacked the entire segment before it could even begin. The crowd erupted immediately and the cheers continued for several minutes as Jericho stood in the ring, taking in the moment and soaking up one of the louder reactions of the year for any AEW return.
After letting the crowd fully absorb what they were seeing, Jericho delivered a short and perfectly chosen statement to close the segment and make his return official.
“AEW — I’m home.”
Chris Jericho’s AEW Return Comes After Nearly a Year Away From Television Since April 2025
Jericho had been away from AEW television since losing to Bandido at AEW Dynasty in April 2025 — almost exactly one year before his dramatic comeback. In the weeks leading up to the return, his recent “Cornerstone” trademark filing had sparked significant speculation about his next move, with sources within AEW indicating a growing belief internally that he would return to the company. Those reports proved accurate.
His return comes at one of the most consequential moments in AEW’s 2026 calendar. With Dynasty on April 12 in Vancouver just days away and major storylines building around MJF’s World Championship defense against Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay’s match with Jon Moxley, Jericho’s re-emergence adds a significant new variable to the landscape. The man who helped launch AEW as its first-ever champion in 2019 is back — and attention now shifts entirely to what the Cornerstone has planned and who his first target will be heading into what shapes up as a pivotal spring for All Elite Wrestling.
"Winnipeg! I'm home" – @IAmJericho
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS + HBO Max pic.twitter.com/jtznXvEbtL
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) April 2, 2026
Welcome home to Winnipeg … @IamJericho!
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS + HBO Max pic.twitter.com/SRlCUP7vOk
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) April 2, 2026
