The ongoing enigma surrounding the hooded figure terrorizing WWE programming has taken a definitive turn, and it is disappointing news for fans holding out hope for a blockbuster Chris Jericho return.
Despite intense online speculation linking the AEW star to the current chaos on RAW, industry expert Dave Meltzer has firmly ruled him out of the storyline.
In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Meltzer addressed the buzz directly, noting that while the “Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla” would provide a massive moment for the company, there is currently no intention of him being the big reveal. Meltzer wrote, “Theory has not been the only person under the mask doing the curb stomp run-ins.”
Obviously, until the reveal happens, it could be anyone. Obviously, the biggest pop would be Jericho, but I was told, and I expected this to be the case, that there is a zero percent chance it will end up as Jericho. At least as of this week, because anything is possible in wrestling, but right now that is not in the plans.”
The mystery began at Survivor Series: WarGames, when a masked assailant scaled the cage and delivered a curb stomp to CM Punk, allowing The Vision to secure a victory. The choice of the move—the signature maneuver of an injured Seth Rollins—immediately sparked theories that Jericho, a master of reinvention and former rival of Punk, could be making a shocking jump back to the Stamford-based promotion.
WWE has deliberately fueled the confusion by rotating different performers under the hood to obscure physical tells like physique or movement. While Austin Theory was strongly implied to be the man at Survivor Series, recent strikes on RAW against LA Knight and Rey Mysterio featured an individual with a different build, leading many to incorrectly guess Montez Ford. Bryan Alvarez later debunked the Ford rumors, confirming that the search for the “mystery man” continues.
With Jericho officially out of the plans for this specific reveal, the wrestling world remains in detective mode. Reports indicate that Jericho’s AEW contract is set to expire at the end of 2025, and while he has been on a hiatus from that company since April, he has teased wrestling “somewhere” in 2026. WWE has reportedly expressed interest in a retirement tour for the legend next year, but for now, he is not the one behind the mask.
As the mystery deepens, the focus shifts back to internal suspects like Austin Theory, who was originally slated to join The Vision before creative plans shifted.
