3 Reasons Chris Jericho must return to WWE as a heel 

Chris Jericho made headlines earlier this year when he liked a social media post about his AEW contract nearing its end, and speculating on his potential WWE return afterwards. Subsequent reports indicated that the sports entertainment juggernaut was eager to bring Y2J back into its fold, a possibility that seems to have gained strength during the course of his ongoing All Elite Wrestling hiatus.

More recently, Jericho once again fueled conjecture about his potential AEW exit after praising TNA's crowd for Bound For Glory 2025, which many people have read as a sign of his All Elite departure, considering TNA's working partnership with WWE. With no creative plans seemingly being teased for the inaugural AEW World Champion on the company's programming currently, it seems like his heading back to the Triple H-led promotion could be just a matter of time.

If Jericho does return to World Wrestling Entertainment, we argue that it should be as a heel. Let us explore three reasons why that is the case.

#1. Chris Jericho is better at playing heel characters

Chris Jericho is regarded as a legend of the sport not only because of his versatility as a character worker, but also for his ability to play both a compelling babyface and a despicable heel without losing much of his edge. However, fans often claim that The Ayatollah of Rock 'N' Rolla truly excels when he channels a more villainous persona.

Notably, Jericho debuted in both WWE and AEW as a heel. Although he occupied the role of a face in many of his feuds in World Wrestling Entertainment, Y2J also did some of his best work in the company as a heel. Consider his rivalries with The Rock, Triple H, and Stone Cold during the Attitude Era, his programs with John Cena and Shawn Michaels in the mid to late 2000s (especially during his presentation as a suit-wearing manipulator), and his heel run in 2016, which led to his iconic friendship (and eventual split) with Kevin Owens.

The WWE Universe would no doubt want Jericho at his best in case he returns to the company soon. As such, the global juggernaut would be well-advised to bring the veteran back as a heel, or at least trigger a turn not long after his return, in case he arrives as a fan-favorite.

#2. Chris Jericho could carry over his current gimmick from AEW to WWE

Since around March last year, Chris Jericho began showing signs of turning heel during his program with Hook - including laying hands on the latter's father, Taz. This led to him ultimately crossing over to the dark side at Dynasty 2024, where he unseated The Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil for his FTW Title after hitting him with a baseball bat. The "Lionheart" then transitioned into a new character, "The Learning Tree", appealing to fans and passing himself off as a fount of experience and knowledge keen to help out the next generation.

Jericho then took former WWE superstar Big Bill under his wing after the latter approached him to be his mentor. The duo was later joined by Bryan Keith, who tag-teamed with The Redwood and helped the legend in his matches and supported him against his enemies. A few months after losing the FTW Title to Hook at All In 2024, Jericho recaptured the ROH World Championship from Mark Briscoe in a "Ladder War." He retained the belt against Tomohiro Ishii and later against Matt Cardona at ROH Final Battle courtesy of The Bad Apple's interference.

The Nueve successfully defended the ROH Championship against Bandido in February, but ultimately lost the belt to The Most Wanted star in a Title vs. Mask match at Dynasty 2025. In the aftermath, Jericho lashed out at Bill and Keith for not only failing to capture the World Tag Team Titles from The Hurt Syndicate at the PPV, but also for failing to help him retain his strap. After a shocking on-screen meltdown, the former JAS leader walked out on his students on Dynamite in April and has not been featured on AEW television since.

Bryan Keith, Chris Jericho, and Big Bill [Image via @AEW on X]

If Jericho's time in AEW is indeed coming to an end, and if he does return to WWE next year, he could do so by carrying over his Learning Tree gimmick to his old stomping ground. He could then launch a stable with some of the promotion's promising up-and-comers, potentially including stars from WWE's developmental brand NXT.

#3. Chris Jericho could pursue feuds with top stars like Cody Rhodes and CM Punk

The return of Chris Jericho would no doubt be incredibly significant for WWE. The former Undisputed and World Heavyweight Champion changed the wrestling landscape when he left WWE and signed on with AEW. He played a huge role behind the growth and successes of the Jacksonville-based company, which, now armed with a lucrative new media rights deal, stands as one of the leading pro-wrestling promotions in North America.

Jericho's WWE comeback would easily be as important as Cody Rhodes' return in 2022, and CM Punk's return the following year. If Triple H brings the former Inner Circle leader back as a heel, the latter could be slotted into feuds with The American Nightmare or with The Best in The World for their respective titles. Jericho has history with both Cody and Punk, and their rivalries would serve as big-time programs, likely translating into an increased interest in WWE's product, as usually happens when major names cross over from AEW.

Cody Rhodes and CM Punk [Image credit wwe.com]

It remains to be seen what lies next for Chris Jericho on his pro-wrestling journey.