Speculation Swirls Over Who Will Be Chris Jericho’s Final AEW Opponent

Chris Jericho’s re-signing with AEW back in April is widely believed to mark the final chapter of his in-ring career, and with the 56-year-old having checked nearly every box wrestling has to offer, attention is turning to who might get the honor — or the burden — of being his last opponent.

The most tangible clue right now comes from Jericho’s current program with Nick Wayne. The two have been at odds since AEW All In London 2026, and on the September 16 episode of Dynamite, Jericho beat the 21-year-old cleanly, only for Wayne to respond with a post-match chair attack. That kind of finish suggests this feud still has legs, and it’s easy to see the storyline building toward Wayne eventually getting his revenge — possibly in a program significant enough to double as a career-capping moment for Jericho and a star-making one for Wayne.

But Wayne is far from the only name being floated. MJF’s history with Jericho dates back to 2020 and 2021, when the two were aligned before turning on each other in one of AEW’s early defining rivalries. The two haven’t crossed paths much since, and a reunion — with MJF closing the book on Jericho for good — would give their story a tidy, dramatic ending.

Kyle Fletcher’s name has also come up. “The Protostar” has been positioned as a future AEW World Champion, and a win over a legend like Jericho on his way out could serve as the kind of validating moment that cements a rising star’s spot at the top of the card. AEW has leaned on exactly this kind of torch-passing before, and Fletcher’s trajectory makes him a logical candidate if the promotion wants Jericho’s farewell to double as a launching pad for someone new.

Then there’s the full-circle option: Kenny Omega. Jericho and Omega’s rivalry, which kicked off at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 in January 2018, is often cited as one of the sparks that led directly to AEW’s creation. That feud carried into the main event of AEW’s very first pay-per-view, Double or Nothing, in May 2019. Should Jericho’s AEW tenure end against Omega, it would tie the promotion’s entire history together in a way no other pairing could match.

None of this is confirmed — AEW hasn’t announced any retirement plans or a specific opponent for Jericho, and Tony Khan hasn’t tipped his hand on how this eventually plays out. But the Wayne feud gives fans a real, ongoing storyline to watch, while the other names represent the kind of emotional or symbolic matchups AEW has shown it likes to build toward for its legends.

Whatever direction it takes, Jericho’s eventual walk-off moment will carry weight given his role in shaping AEW from its very first day. For now, all eyes stay on his clash with Wayne — and whether it turns into something bigger before the story is through.