One of the most talked about stories in recent weeks has been Chris Jericho’s AEW contract coming to an end and rumours of a possible return to WWE.
Since AEW’s inception in 2019, Jericho has been central to the company, playing almost every role — its biggest mainstream star, leader of multiple factions, comedy figure, commentator and a reported locker room leader behind the scenes.
If he does leave, AEW will be losing a huge presence both on screen and off.
Here are six potential replacements in AEW for Chris Jericho.
6. Goldberg
Chris Jericho has been — and arguably still is — AEW’s most recognisable name, a television star for nearly 30 years, and in that sense he would be very difficult to replace.
One person who could fill that gap, however, is Goldberg.
While Goldberg recently retired with his last match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event in July, the 58-year-old admitted his disappointment with how he went out, and an AEW run could give him the extended retirement tour he wanted while providing the company with another mainstream star.
That said, Goldberg himself dismissed AEW last year as “too cheesy,” perhaps making such a move unlikely.
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5. Billy Gunn
Billy Gunn remains a prominent figure on AEW programming, currently embroiled in the ongoing feud between former Acclaimed partners Anthony Bowens and Max Caster.
While Gunn may not be the mainstream star that Chris Jericho has been, he could still step into the role of AEW’s veteran locker room presence.
In fact, Gunn’s career stretches back slightly further than Jericho’s, with Gunn debuting in 1989 and Jericho following a year later in 1990.
With over three decades of experience to draw from, wrestling across continents in some of the world’s top promotions, Gunn has the credibility and knowledge to become the figure that younger AEW wrestlers turn to for guidance.
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4. Jeff Jarrett
Jeff Jarrett is another veteran on the AEW roster with the knowledge and experience to step into Chris Jericho’s role as a locker room leader and a source of guidance for younger wrestlers backstage.
Moreover, on-screen Jarrett could also fill Jericho’s void as the leader of a top heel faction — a role Jericho excelled in with The Inner Circle and the Jericho Appreciation Society.
At 58, Jarrett remains a capable in-ring performer, and while he has currently been embraced by fans as an aging babyface on AEW programming, the bulk of his 40-year career has been spent as one of wrestling’s most despised heels.
If Jericho does leave for WWE, AEW will be left with a gap for a veteran heel as leader of a featured faction — and that’s a role Jarrett could slot into effortlessly.
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3. Bryan Danielson
Another of Jericho’s roles in AEW has been at the commentary desk; on AEW’s now-defunct Friday night show Rampage, Jericho spent much of the programme’s run as an on-screen analyst, successfully bringing his trademark wit and in-ring knowledge to the role.
There is a clear candidate to replace him here: “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson.
Danielson joined the booth during the 20 August edition of Dynamite and again across much of the Forbidden Door PPV, excelling as he called the action like a legitimate sporting contest, bringing an unrivalled level of authenticity and expertise on the intricacies of the in-ring action.
While Danielson’s full-time in-ring career may be over, whether he would want to permanently transition into commentary is another question, however.
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2. Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle is another star with the mainstream recognition of Chris Jericho.
Jericho’s recent run with The Learning Tree has been as a mid-card comedy heel — and while opinions differ on the success of the act, his ability to do comedy in wrestling has never been in doubt, it is something he has excelled at his entire career.
The former five-time WWE World Champion and Olympic gold medalist is long retired and in no shape to wrestle again, but he could certainly replace Jericho in the comedy heel role he himself shone in for much of his first WWE run.
Whether leading a heel faction, managing talent, or playing an inept authority figure, Angle has both the comedic ability and star power to step into Jericho’s shoes.
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1. Cope
It will be difficult for AEW to replace Chris Jericho, given the variety of roles he has successfully played throughout his run with the company.
One person already on the roster who has the ability to take on each of those roles is Cope.
The former Edge is a mainstream star – although, admittedly not quite the star Jericho is – one who brings a three-decade career of experience that makes him a natural locker room leader, has proven himself as both a top heel and faction leader in WWE, is highly effective on the microphone, able to step into the commentary booth when needed, and has also excelled in comedic roles.
If Jericho does leave for WWE, Cope appears the most likely to replace his fellow Canadian.
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