Clarification On Chris Jericho NJPW Status

A recent report clarified details surrounding the NJPW deal of Chris Jericho, and when we could next see Jericho in Japan.

Jericho notably returned to NJPW ahead of Wrestle Kingdom 12 in 2018 to begin a rivalry with Kenny Omega. Wrestling numerous times for the promotion in 2018 and 2019, Jericho’s NJPW run arguably revitalised his career ahead of signing with AEW.

According to Dave Meltzer, Chris Jericho is no longer under contract with NJPW. The latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Jericho’s last match of his deal was his bout against Hiroshi Tanahashi in early 2020.

Former NJPW President Harold Meij was reportedly negative on the match due to the high cost of Jericho. Others in the company felt different, but Meltzer noted that NJPW’s finances have been hit hard by the pandemic since.

NJPW announced that Harold Meij was stepping down as CEO and President of NJPW last year.

Jericho has previously stated that he has a lot of “unfinished business” in NJPW, teasing matches with Minoru Suzuki, Kota Ibushi and Will Ospreay.

The former AEW Champion has also hinted at an invasion angle between AEW and NJPW, so Jericho definitely wants to return to the Land of the Rising Sun.

NJPW Dominion takes place on Monday, June 7. At the event, Kazuchika Okada will face Shingo Takagi, with the vacant IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on the line.

What are your thoughts on the above story? Let us know in the comments on Twitter or Facebook.

• NJPW
• chris jericho
• AEW
• contract

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