Amid ongoing uncertainty about his future in professional wrestling, AEW star Chris Jericho made a surprising nod to WWE during his continued absence from All Elite Wrestling. Since April 2025, Jericho, a former AEW World Champion, has not appeared on AEW programming, sparking speculation about a possible return to WWE or a permanent departure from AEW. In a move that caught the wrestling world’s attention, Jericho reposted a nostalgic clip from his WWE days, reminding fans of his past tenure in Stamford.
Jericho’s social media activity involved sharing a fan-made video featuring a memorable promo exchange with WWE icon “Rowdy” Roddy Piper from a 2009 Monday Night RAW episode. This classic confrontation remains a highlight of Jericho’s WWE career, yet since going on hiatus, AEW has neither acknowledged him on television nor confirmed his contract status, which is reportedly frozen. The post raises questions about Jericho’s next steps and the potential for his comeback or a transition back to WWE’s roster.
Criticism of Triple H Surfaces from Former WWE Announcer Samantha Irvin
Samantha Irvin, who left WWE in October 2024 and is widely rumored to be joining AEW alongside her husband, Ricochet, recently fueled controversy online with a pointed response regarding WWE’s Chief Content Officer, Triple H. The exchange began when a fan on the social media platform X contrasted Tony Khan’s behind-the-scenes management style with Triple H’s more dominant presence in WWE creative decisions.
The fan described Triple H as an
“insecure moron putting himself front and center of every single thing,”
praising Khan for staying largely behind the curtain and not overshadowing the product. Irvin replied to this comment with a cryptic remark:
“In case you been living under a rock….”
Her reply was interpreted by many as agreement with the harsh criticism, intensifying online debates about leadership styles within wrestling promotions and the tensions surrounding WWE’s creative direction under Triple H’s oversight.
Eric Bischoff Questions Tony Khan’s Transparency Regarding AEW Ownership
Former WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff has voiced significant doubts about the public information concerning All Elite Wrestling’s ownership structure, directly challenging Tony Khan. Recent reports, including those from CNN, suggested that Warner Bros. Discovery holds a minority stake in AEW, reportedly below 5%. However, Bischoff expressed skepticism during his 83 Weeks podcast, proposing the actual stake might be much higher.
Bischoff stated,
“I mean, the spin, the distortion, the lies by omission — with regard to probably every wrestling organization at some point, and probably every business at some point — that’s just the normal course of business. I’m not surprised…It’s like the nonsense with AEW and the 5 million a year contract. Then you hear about whether Time Warner owned a percentage of AEW. Now it’s out that it’s under 5%. I suspect the equity is somewhere between 20 and 25%, not the 2% or 3% or whatever number has been released online for the internet wrestling community to run with,”
calling into question the official narrative and transparency that AEW and Khan have presented to the public and investors.
Vince Russo Defends Tony Khan After Nick Khan’s Public Snub
In a recent episode of the Two-Man Power Trip podcast, former WWE writer Vince Russo came to the defense of Tony Khan amid criticisms from WWE CEO Nick Khan. Nick Khan had praised Tony’s father, Shad Khan, for financially supporting AEW but noticeably left Tony Khan unmentioned, despite Tony’s crucial role as AEW’s President and Head of Creative.
Russo expressed his frustration with Nick Khan’s remarks during the podcast:
“So, I’m actually a fan of Tony Khan. Bro, I swear to God, just a week ago, Nick Khan took a shot at Tony Khan and I was p*ssed off. I was freaking p*ssed off, bro. Tony Khan is freaking harmless. You know what I’m saying, bro? He’s harmless. He loves the business. He genuinely believes what he’s doing is right. I am without a shadow of a doubt a fan of Tony K,”
highlighting his personal respect for Khan despite ongoing criticism of AEW’s creative product. Russo also revealed he has not watched any AEW episodes in over five years, indicating his defense is rooted in respect for Khan as a person rather than approval of the current state of the promotion.
The Broader Implications for AEW and Professional Wrestling
These recent developments underscore a period of turbulence within AEW and the broader wrestling industry. Chris Jericho’s mysterious absence together with his nostalgic WWE reference adds fuel to speculation about his professional path ahead. Meanwhile, public disputes involving major figures like Triple H, Tony Khan, Nick Khan, and others reveal ongoing power struggles and leadership conflicts behind the scenes.
Eric Bischoff’s skepticism regarding AEW’s ownership raises questions about the company’s corporate transparency and financial backing, which could affect investor confidence and fan trust. Vince Russo’s vocal support of Tony Khan as a passionate promoter contrasts with critiques of AEW’s creative direction, reflecting the complicated dynamics facing the company. As these storylines evolve, wrestling fans and industry insiders alike will be watching closely to see how these tensions impact AEW’s future stability and positioning against WWE.
In case you been living under a rock….
— SAMANTHA THE BOMB (@SamanthaTheBomb) February 22, 2026
