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Chris Jericho has had a memorable career in WWE. However, he became the first massive signing for Tony Khan's AEW and has since remained a significant component of the promotion's weekly programming. At AEW All Out 2021, Le Champion will put his career on the line. MJF will walk in as the heavy favorite. However, professional wrestling retirements are rarely conserved, and no one believes Jericho to literally quit wrestling if he loses the match.
But what if Jericho partially keeps his promise, resigns from AEW, and returns to WWE? It seems like an unthinkable vision, and rightfully so. Even if he remains a part of the AEW roster, Jericho might return to WWE at one point for that final nostalgia run and Hall of Fame induction. And if he does, he will have multiple dream matches lined up for him.
Many new talents have joined the main roster, an old face or two have returned, and there will be no scarcity of both fresh and ancient rivalries for Jericho to work on. Here is a list of five competitors that Jericho will light up the ring with if he returns to WWE.
#5 Former WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens
Some of the best days of Jericho's last full-time WWE run were spent in a long-term storyline involving Kevin Owens. In a narrative that lasted for the better part of a year, Jericho and KO grew close, leading to an emotionally charged backstabbing and a rivalry that WWE toned down from the Universal Championship to the United States Championship.
Owens and Jericho feuded for quite some time, and if Jericho returns to WWE, a clash with Owens is sure to be satisfying. Owens has revamped himself into WWE's resident Stunner-Server at this point, an aspect that shall spice up the rivalry.
#4 Former WWE United States Champion Baron Corbin
Baron Corbin is hardly the WWE Superstar a fan thinks of while listing extraordinary in-ring talents. However, there is one benefit in a Corbin vs. Jericho match. Corbin already holds the rare acumen of retiring a legend of the stature of Kurt Angle, and the entire lead-up to the match could include Corbin boasting about potentially retiring yet another icon of WWE.
Corbin is currently being pushed as Happy Corbin, and his portrayal of destitution to return to prosperity with a flicker of villainy has been well received. If the Mayor of Jackpot City continues the good work and if WWE keeps him a part of significant storylines, the speculative Jericho match will turn serious. Otherwise, the match may operate as a throwaway humorous moment.
#3 Former WWE Universal Champion Finn Bálor
Finn Bálor is an incredible competitor and his proficiency inside the ring is undoubted. He is currently undergoing a resurgence in stature following a successful NXT run and a feud against Roman Reigns.
Bálor has only faced Jericho in live events and has won all of their matches. However, they have never competed against each other on television. Bálor vs. Jericho has every potential to be an amazing match, with the latter conceivably lending the rub to the Irish superstar.
#2 Current WWE Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura
When Jericho left WWE and appeared in NJPW as The Painmaker, it was a major surprise that went on to deliver. Jericho has consistently proved himself capable of withstanding the strong style of professional wrestling favored by NJPW. If Jericho ever returns to WWE, he has the king of that particular style waiting for a match-up.
The current WWE Intercontinental Champion is as hard-hitting as possible. Although his style has been toned down by WWE, he can bring it back for a match against Jericho, preferably in his Painmaker persona. It will be yet another fresh match-up, as the duo have never faced each other on television.
#1 WWE Hall Of Famer Edge
If Jericho returns to WWE and Edge is still an active competitor at that point, a match between them is inevitable. Edge's return has opened up all sorts of dream scenarios and his history with Y2J is sufficient to warrant yet another match.
The duo battled each other on numerous occasions, including a particularly brilliant match at WrestleMania XXVI, and WWE could easily market it as the last battle between the duo. Age is catching up on Jericho and Edge, but as two of the best in-ring competitors in WWE history, they can surely provide fans with a match to remember.
