Chris Jericho Says AEW Return Has Been ‘More Fun Than Ever,’ Eyes Ciampa Clash on July 9 Dynamite

Chris Jericho is rediscovering his love for professional wrestling — and he wants the world to know it.

After roughly a year away from AEW television, the veteran returned in April under a stripped-back presentation, going simply by the name “Jericho.” Speaking on Close Up with Renee Paquette, he reflected on the comeback and why stepping back in against Ricochet turned out to be the right call.

Jericho credited Ricochet’s in-ring ability and heel work for helping him find his footing as a fan favorite again. “That actually worked out great because he is so athletic and he is so acrobatic, but I got in and I realized I didn’t really lose a step either,” Jericho said. “It was a great storyline because he’s an awesome heel. He knows how to be a heel, and that helped me kind of reimagine what a babyface Jericho was like.”

The former world champion made clear that enjoyment is now the primary measuring stick for his career. “I couldn’t be happier with the first couple of months of this return and just how it’s been accepted and just how much fun it’s been,” he said. “That’s the point, at this time. If I’m not having fun, I don’t want to do it.”

Jericho’s last AEW appearance before his hiatus came in a Mask vs. Title match against Bandido for the ROH World Heavyweight Championship — a bout he lost. His comeback has clearly carried a different energy, with the veteran operating as a babyface and drawing a strong response from crowds.

The next chapter arrives quickly. Jericho is set to collide with Tommaso Ciampa on the July 9 episode of AEW Dynamite — Beach Break in Clearwater, Florida — a matchup that figures to test whether that rediscovered fire translates into a marquee rivalry.