Chris Jericho‘s return to WWE is looking increasingly likely, and he may have already let slip what would be first on the agenda.
Chris Jericho’s Potential First WWE Feud
Chris Jericho remains an AEW star but his contract is soon up and speculation is growing over a return to WWE, perhaps as early as the Royal Rumble in January. He has teased fans on social media with posts relating to his previous spells in the company.
The 54-year-old has been involved in some of the greatest storylines in WWE history and faced some of the biggest names in the business. He has continuously recalled some of the highlights of his WWE career while an active member of the AEW roster.
That was the case six years ago when Jericho gave his verdict on what a potential return would look like and which storyline he’d like to be involved in. He told Busted Open Radio: “What else could I do in WWE? If I went back tomorrow, I probably restart the feud with Kevin Owens. To be honest with you, the feud that I had with him in 2016 was probably the best thing on the show.”
Jericho and Kevin Owens produced one of the best stories of the PG era, which resulted in the iconic ‘Festival of Friendship’ segment on RAW in February 2017. The then-Universal Champion, Owens, betrayed Y2J by attacking him and igniting a feud between the pair that culminated in a match at WrestleMania 33.
They were expecting to battle for the Universal Championship but plans changed when Vince McMahon opted for Goldberg to defeat Owens on the Road to WrestleMania. This prevented them from colliding in the main event on the grandest stage of them all.
Jericho added: “And where were we at WrestleMania? Second on the card. It’s the same thing that happened in WCW… To be on second, with this angle that we had, when it was designated at first, I was told by Vince, ‘You’re gonna win the World Title from Kevin Owens in the main event of WrestleMania.’ Three days later he changed it to Brock vs. Goldberg and didn’t tell me.”
Jericho may feel as though there’s unfinished business regarding his storyline with Owens, although a WWE return is not yet official. A possible revival of their feud would undoubtedly be well-received by fans.
When is Kevin Owens Expected To Return?
Jericho could even return to WWE before Owens does, as the Prizefighter is currently out of action with a neck and spinal injury. He hasn’t been seen on WWE TV since April, when he was pulled from WrestleMania 41 to undergo neck surgery.
The 41-year-old underwent successful surgery in July, but he isn’t expected to be back for at least a year, putting a WrestleMania 42 appearance at risk. A possible return for SummerSlam 2026 is seen as more likely, although he has admitted he can’t promise he’ll return due to the seriousness of the injury.
Owens had turned heel months before the setback, feuding with Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship. He then turned his attention to Randy Orton but a potential Mania match between the pair was cancelled.
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