During an episode of his 83 Weeks podcast, WWE Hall of Famer and former WCW President Eric Bischoff shared his thoughts on Chris Jericho WWE return rumors, analyzing Jericho’s current situation and potential comeback. Bischoff highlighted Jericho’s unique talent for reinventing himself and hinted at reasons behind his absence from television.
Bischoff’s Perspective on Jericho’s Reinvention and Motivation
Bischoff remarked on Jericho’s ability to evolve his persona, noting that Jericho hasn’t been seen on camera in quite some time. He recalled Jericho appearing somewhat out of shape during his last TV appearance, saying,
“Chris was looking a little pudgy the last time I saw him on camera. Pudgy won’t fly in WWE, not like that.”
This physical change, according to Bischoff, partially explains Jericho’s current hiatus.
He elaborated on his theory about Jericho’s absence:
“Chris has so much pride and competition in him. He’s a competitive person. My theory for weeks — I haven’t brought it up to you necessarily, because there’s no reason to. But for weeks, maybe longer, I’m thinking to myself, ‘I know what Chris is going to do.’ He’s off TV because he’s going to come back looking shredded.”
Bischoff suggested that Jericho’s time away is a deliberate step toward returning in peak form.
Speculation on Contract Negotiations and WWE Interest
Bischoff connected Jericho’s physical transformation to upcoming contract opportunities, speculating that the star might be preparing for a lucrative return. He said,
“Now, I didn’t think about him getting shredded and going to WWE because I wasn’t paying attention to when his contract is out. Now I’m still feeling the same way. There’s a reason he’s off TV. There’s a very good reason.”
Regarding the possible WWE return, Bischoff imagined Jericho using subtle hints to increase his market value:
“So now you throw the WWE possibility, and here’s the part where I’m entertained. If I’m Chris, and I’m getting shredded. And Tony’s excited about getting me back, and my contract’s coming up in four or five months? I’m going to make sure that contract is as fat as I can make it. So what better way than to create a market for yourself, or a potential market for yourself, with a couple of little comments or liking a tweet?”
He emphasized WWE’s chairman’s interest in such online buzz, adding,
“Tony lives on the internet. That’s his heroin. He loves the internet, he makes decisions based on the internet. Chris is smart enough to do [it.] It’s true, and Chris knows it’s true. So if I’m Chris, ‘Well come on, daddy, because somebody’s going to pay me.’ I love it.”
Bischoff’s Wish for Jericho to End His Career in WWE
Although not communicating closely with Jericho, Bischoff expressed hope that the wrestler concludes his career on WWE’s platform instead of AEW. He explained,
“I feel strongly — and look, I’m not close to [Jericho]. I mean, we’re friends, but we don’t chat. We don’t — you know, if we see each other in a restaurant, we’ll probably sit down and have a meal or something like that, and have a great conversation. But it’s not like we stay in touch.”
Bischoff compared the two companies, suggesting WWE offers a more prestigious stage for a farewell:
“I hope he goes to WWE. I hope he ends his career in WWE. And this is not intended disrespect to AEW, but it is what AEW is. And the audience is what it is, or isn’t what it isn’t. If any performer is going to go out, why would you not want to go out on the biggest stage of them all? Who wants to win a trophy in triple-A ball when you could win a World Series ring? And that’s really the difference between the two companies. One is triple-A ball. One is the New York Yankees. Why would you want to end your career in triple-A ball?”
What This Could Mean for Chris Jericho’s Career
Bischoff’s insights suggest that Chris Jericho may be preparing for a physically transformed return to WWE, potentially as part of contract negotiations influenced by online engagement. His comparison of WWE and AEW highlights the potential prestige Jericho could gain by finishing his wrestling career on the biggest wrestling stage. If these predictions align with reality, fans might expect to see a revamped Jericho make his WWE comeback in the near future, making the ongoing Chris Jericho WWE return rumors worth watching closely.
