Chris Jericho Talks Career Longevity and Future Plans

The nine-time World Champion discusses his future in professional wrestling.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 10:51am

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Chris Jericho, a nine-time World Champion, has been off television for nearly a year but remains a member of the AEW roster. In a new interview, Jericho revealed that he plans to return to the ring at some point and credits his longevity in the industry to being more cautious with his in-ring work compared to his younger days. Jericho expressed concerns about the current generation of wrestlers and whether they will have the same opportunity to have long careers like he has.

Why it matters

Jericho's comments provide insight into the challenges of maintaining a successful and lengthy career in professional wrestling, especially as the industry continues to evolve. His perspective on the importance of being a cautious worker and prioritizing character development over pure physicality offers valuable lessons for aspiring wrestlers.

The details

Jericho, who is 55 years old and has been in the industry for 35 years, believes he still has more work to do in professional wrestling. Despite rumors of a potential return to WWE, Jericho remains under contract with AEW, where he has been a key figure since the company's inception in 2019. Jericho credits his longevity to being more cautious with his in-ring work, as he learned the hard way after suffering an injury in Mexico early in his career. He now wonders if the current generation of wrestlers will have the same opportunity to sustain long careers, as the industry has shifted towards emphasizing physical in-ring work over character and performance.

  • Jericho's AEW contract is reportedly set to expire at the end of 2025.
  • Jericho has been off television for nearly a year, with his hiatus from AEW approaching the 12-month mark.
  • Jericho turns 56 years old this fall.

The players

Chris Jericho

A nine-time World Champion and future Hall of Famer in professional wrestling, who has been a key figure in AEW since the company's inception in 2019.

All Elite Wrestling (AEW)

The upstart professional wrestling promotion that Jericho joined in 2019, lending instant credibility as the inaugural AEW World Champion.

WWE

The dominant professional wrestling promotion, which has reportedly shown interest in bringing Jericho back for a potential retirement tour.

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What they’re saying

“What worries me about the guys working today is here I am at 55, 35 years in, with still some career left to go. I don't know if it's a year, two years, four years — I'm not sure. But I don't know how many of the guys working now will have the option to go 35 years. Hopefully all of them.”

— Chris Jericho

“I landed on old-school bolted-down arena chairs. I messed up my arm and I thought, oh, I could actually get hurt doing this. And if a guy doesn't want to catch you, that's even worse. After that I started getting smart about which moves were worth the risk. The guys who figure that out early are the ones who get the longevity.”

— Chris Jericho

What’s next

Jericho's future plans remain uncertain, as his AEW contract is set to expire at the end of 2025 and there are ongoing rumors of a potential return to WWE for a retirement tour.

The takeaway

Jericho's comments highlight the importance of longevity and sustainability in professional wrestling, emphasizing the need for wrestlers to prioritize their long-term health and well-being over the pursuit of high-risk, physically demanding moves. His perspective offers valuable lessons for the current generation of wrestlers on how to build a successful and enduring career in the industry.