Despite all the anticipation and buzz, Chris Jericho didn’t return at WWE Royal Rumble 2026. The Men’s Rumble match rarely saw any major surprise returns, but Roman Reigns‘ victory was a fitting conclusion to the match.
With Y2J’s absence from the show, fans are confused, especially since the Saudi Arabia PLE appeared to be the perfect spot for his comeback. In this article, we will discuss three reasons why Chris Jericho didn’t make his comeback at the Royal Rumble this year.
#3. Chris Jericho is busy with his band
Besides professional wrestling, Chris Jericho is part of the band Fozzy. One of the key reasons he did not return at Royal Rumble could be his passion for music. Recently, the band confirmed its upcoming UK tour, running from February 6 to 21.
Even if Jericho had returned at Royal Rumble, it was unlikely that he would have appeared on weekly television shows. Considering this, WWE might have decided not to pull triggers on Chris’ return at the recent premium Live event.
The Stamford-based promotion may consider his comeback after he finishes his commitment with the Fozzy band.
#2. Is he still part of AEW?
Although reports confirmed that Chris Jericho is now a free agent and no longer associated with the All Elite Wrestling promotion, fans noticed that the former WWE star is still listed on AEW’s official website as active talent.
This means that either Jericho is still part of the Tony Khan-led promotion and could be on a break, or he may have a few days left in his contract expiration. This serves as another major reason why he didn’t return at WWE Royal Rumble.
#1. Triple H might bring Chris Jericho for WWE WrestleMania 42
The Royal Rumble show officially kicks off the Road to WrestleMania. Meanwhile, Elimination Chamber will still be a major PLE. So the company will first focus on the Elimination Chamber show and later put all efforts into the ‘Mania 42 card.
There is a slight chance that the Chief Content Officer of WWE might be saving Chris Jericho for this year’s Showcase of the Immortals. This could explain why he failed to appear in the traditional Men’s Rumble match.
The Game might bring Jericho after Elimination Chamber PLE and directly insert him in a major way for The Show of Shows.
Edited by Neda Ali