Chris Jericho Praises TNA, Takes Subtle Shot at AEW

Jericho said on his show:

“That crowd looked huge. It looked huge. It was like a WWE-level crowd. The place was packed. I was watching this and, not saying anything out of school here, but comparing it to watching Dynamite when they were at the ECW Arena, which looked like a Tony Condello taping — sorry, it did — TNA looked like the second biggest company in the world, and that was amazing. And the presentation was amazing.”

The quote immediately set off speculation that Jericho — who hasn’t appeared in AEW since Dynasty in April — might be preparing for a major move. His contract reportedly runs through the end of 2025, but fans online are already whispering about a potential WWE return, possibly timed for the 2026 Royal Rumble.

Is Jericho Hinting At A Jump To TNA Or WWE?

Jericho’s candid comparison of AEW and TNA may not go over well behind the scenes in AEW. That said, does it matter? If Jericho is leaving and set to make a return to WWE, what he says on the way out seems like little more than promotion for his next move.

If he's staying in AEW, perhaps Jericho's plan here is to take a bit of a jab at AEW’s recent presentation issues.

Meanwhile, for TNA, Jericho’s endorsement is huge. They are growing in popularity and their partnership with WWE is arguably paying off huge dividends, especially when it comes to gates and attendance. The growing buzz around Bound for Glory, which Jericho only made larger, is good for their business.

Could Jericho actually appear in TNA someday? Stranger things have happened. The more likely scenario is that he returns to WWE, and it doesn't hurt to praise their new partner in TNA.