Another major clue has surfaced that suggests Chris Jericho’s time with All Elite Wrestling is coming to an end. It has been reported that a trademark for “The Jericho Vortex,” a term related to his “Learning Tree” gimmick in AEW, has been officially ruled as “dead and abandoned” by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Jericho had originally filed for the trademark in April 2024 for merchandise-related purposes. The abandonment of the trademark, which occurred in October 2025, is due to Jericho’s failure to follow up with the necessary documentation within the allotted six-month timeline.
The official statement from the USPTO reads:
“The application above is abandoned because we did not receive within six months of the Notice of Allowance (NOA) issue date: (1) A Statement of Use (SOU); or (2) A Request for Extension of Time to File a Statement of Use (Extension Request).”
This news has only added fuel to the intense speculation that the former inaugural AEW World Champion is planning a return to WWE. Jericho’s AEW contract is reportedly set to expire at the end of 2025, and he has been on hiatus from the company since April. Recent reports have indicated that there is significant talk within WWE about a potential return, with plans for a final “retirement tour” and a subsequent Hall of Fame induction being discussed. The fact that Jericho has allowed an AEW-related trademark to lapse is being seen by many as the clearest sign yet that he is not planning to re-sign with Tony Khan’s promotion.