Summary

Tony Khan said Chris Jericho had other options as a free agent but ultimately decided he wanted to remain with AEW.

Khan addressed the situation while discussing Jericho's return to television on the April 1 edition of Dynamite in Winnipeg. According to Khan, Jericho made it clear in their conversations that he wanted to be in AEW, and specifically wanted to be back in Winnipeg on that date.

The comments add another layer to Jericho's return after a year away from television. They also follow recent discussion around his AEW status before he reappeared on Dynamite.

Quote from Tony Khan

"Well, I've always wanted Chris to be a part of AEW from the very beginning, and I'm really glad that Chris is a part of AEW going forward. He always will be."

Khan later went on to say:

"I do know Chris had a choice and he wanted to be in AEW. He would be the best person to ask, but I know that I've been in communication with Chris and he definitely told me he wanted to be at AEW and very specifically in Winnipeg on that date. We've had that circled for a long time going back to last year. And it was a choice that Chris made that he'd rather be in AEW than wrestling anywhere else. And I think that's awesome.

So I can't say for sure, exactly what his mind was and where he was thinking, but I know that he definitely always has been consistent that he loves AEW and that he wants to be here. And I'm glad that he chose to be in AEW because that's a choice he made because he was a free agent."

What Tony Khan's comments mean for Chris Jericho in AEW

Tony Khan framing Jericho's decision as a clear choice to stay with AEW gives the return more weight than a one-night surprise. It positions Jericho as someone the company still sees as part of its core identity, especially after bringing him back in Winnipeg on a date Khan said had been planned well in advance.

It also gives AEW a firmer base for whatever comes next on television. Jericho's return was already treated as a major moment, and Khan's comments reinforce that the comeback was meant to restart his place in the promotion rather than serve as a short-term appearance.

Sources

As reported by NoDQ.