{"id":156720,"date":"2026-04-03T13:40:52","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T17:40:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=156720"},"modified":"2026-04-08T08:06:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T12:06:14","slug":"aew-dynamite-preview-4-8-26-chris-jericho-returns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2026\/04\/03\/aew-dynamite-preview-4-8-26-chris-jericho-returns\/","title":{"rendered":"AEW Dynamite Preview (4\/8\/26) &#8211; Chris Jericho Returns"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>AEW Dynamite returns to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, ahead of <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2026\/04\/06\/aew-dynasty-2026-preview-4-12-26-card-time-how-to-watch\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">AEW Dynasty<\/a> this upcoming weekend, and we\u2019re likely going to get some fun last-minute build for Kenny Omega vs. MJF. <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2026\/04\/01\/aew-dynamite-results-and-live-updates-4-1-26-pac-versus-ospreay\/\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Last week<\/a><\/span>, MJF targeted Omega\u2019s battle with diverticulitis, suggesting his intestines are a fast-ticking time bomb. Ready to explode at any moment. MJF almost made the God of Pro Wrestling snap by claiming he would make Omega a false idol who would be better off dead.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"MJF &amp; Kenny Omega&#039;s contract signing ends in CHAOS! | AEW Dynamite | 4\/1\/26\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BxaQBFt00I4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>This week, Kenny Omega will speak live. The entire story of Kenny Omega\u2019s return since overcoming diverticulitis is one centred on a philosophical mantra carried out in Roman times to remind great generals of their hubris. Memento Mori. Remember, you must die. Despite attempts by The Don Callis Family, Kyle Fletcher, and Swerve Strickland, Omega lives.<\/p>\n<p>When the man stands in the ring with the microphone in his hand on Wednesday, how will Omega address his opponent? His legacy? The significance of AEW Dynasty? Although we know already that Omega isn\u2019t the only Canadian looking to fill in the gaps and address the doubters.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Wednesday Night <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AEWDynamite?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#AEWDynamite<\/a><br \/>LIVE, 8\/7c on TBS + HBO Max<br \/>This Wednesday, 4\/8!<\/p>\n<p>We&#39;ll Hear from <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KennyOmegamanX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@KennyOmegamanX<\/a> LIVE!<\/p>\n<p>Just days before he challenges The Devil, AEW World Champion <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/The_MJF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@The_MJF<\/a>, at <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AEWDynasty?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#AEWDynasty<\/a> we&#39;ll hear from the God of Pro Wrestling, Kenny Omega, WEDNESDAY! <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/8vKq3XhJ0o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/8vKq3XhJ0o<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AEW\/status\/2039891888354844817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 3, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Chris Jericho Addresses His Return<\/h2>\n<p>Chris Jericho returned to his hometown of Winnipeg last week. Opening the show with Judas, the name of a thousand and one monikers, he walked away with a brief message. \u201cWinnipeg\u2026 AEW\u2026 I\u2019m home.\u201d Online fans reacted, but the response reflects that, despite being gone a year, some are apprehensive. Many expected Jericho to jump to WWE. Some AEW fans were wishfully even hoping Jericho would go.<\/p>\n<p>Undeniably, Jericho\u2019s initial role in AEW got over <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/11\/10\/3-ways-chris-jericho-got-key-aews-key-principles-over\/\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">three of the company\u2019s most important principles<\/a><\/span>. Over time, <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/11\/17\/chris-jericho-elevated-aew-wrestlers\/\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">the ways Jericho got some wrestlers over varied so widely<\/a><\/span>, involved so much repetition that it exposed Jericho\u2019s creative and in-ring limitations.<\/p>\n<p>The question in 2026 is, what does Jericho offer? In the year he has been gone, AEW has gone creatively from strength to strength. With the vortex closed, fans haven\u2019t missed what they wanted gone.<\/p>\n<p>Whatever Jericho says or does will set the tone for what follows. Is this a final run? Are we going to get what seemed so unlikely months ago when I wrote a <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2025\/08\/23\/what-if-chris-jericho-stays-and-truly-reinvented-himself-in-aew\/\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">what-if about Jericho\u2019s return<\/a><\/span>? Will the man truly reinvent himself, retirement or not? Or are we in for more of the same?<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Chris Jericho has come back home to All Elite Wrestling! | AEW Dynamite, 4\/1\/26\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vAvNdVdJDLQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>TBS Open Challenge<\/h2>\n<p>After a successful AEW TBS Championship against the returning Hikaru Shida on AEW Collision, Willow Nightingale put out another open contract for her title. Quickly snapped up and signed by another returnee, Queen Aminata, it\u2019s going to be a physical contest on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Wednesday Night <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AEWDynamite?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#AEWDynamite<\/a><br \/>8\/7c on TBS + HBO Max<br \/>THIS WEDNESDAY, 4\/8!<\/p>\n<p>TBS Championship<a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/willowwrestles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@WillowWrestles<\/a> vs <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/amisylle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@amisylle<\/a><\/p>\n<p>After Willow retained the title on <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AEWCollision?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#AEWCollision<\/a> tonight, the returning Queen Aminata has signed Willow\u2019s open contract!<br \/>Willow vs Queen Aminata<br \/>THIS WEDNESDAY! <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zpY2hgwVRa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/zpY2hgwVRa<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TonyKhan\/status\/2039886166241996845?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 3, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Known for her hard-striking, decapitating kicks and chocolate kisses, Aminata won\u2019t be a walkover. Aminata was on the warpath before the injury. Ruled out of the <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2025\/10\/15\/aew-blood-and-guts-how-it-will-fuel-the-womens-division\/\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">first women\u2019s Blood and Guts match<\/a><\/span>, it\u2019s surprising to see Aminata go for the TBS Championship rather than re-ignite her feud with current AEW Women\u2019s champion, Thekla. Whether there will be some connective webbing joining the two from this bout or subsequently, Nightingale will be tested.<\/p>\n<p>The TBS Champion needs an opponent for AEW Dynasty. We\u2019ve seen many draws and close draws in the men\u2019s singles championship divisions. It would be nice to see <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2025\/02\/14\/the-spotlight-issue-timeless-toni-storm-vs-mariah-may\/\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">some parity for the women\u2019s titles<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"&quot;An Austrian horror story&quot; Thekla takes on Queen Aminata | AEW Summer Blockbuster, 6\/11\/25\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RTlEWqQtnzs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>AEW Dynamite (4\/8\/26) &#8211; Matches Announced<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The Don Callis Family (Mark Davis, Andrade El Idolo, and Konosuke Takeshita) vs. Bandido, Darby Allin, and Jungle Jack Perry<\/li>\n<li>TBS Championship: Willow Nightingale vs. Queen Aminata<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>AEW Dynamite (4\/8\/26) &#8211; Segments Announced<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Chris Jericho will address his return live!<\/li>\n<li>Kenny Omega speaks live<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This Wednesday, 4\/8!<\/p>\n<p>EDMONTON, AB! Wednesday Night <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AEWDynamite?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#AEWDynamite<\/a> is coming your way!<\/p>\n<p>Join us for a huge show on the road to <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AEWDynasty?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#AEWDynasty<\/a> LIVE at 8\/7c on <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TBSNetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@TBSNetwork<\/a> + <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SportsonMax?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@SportsOnMAX<\/a>, THIS WEDNESDAY! <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/J8pILIECHp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/J8pILIECHp<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AEW\/status\/2040059242363969926?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 3, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>AEW Dynamite returns to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, ahead of AEW Dynasty this upcoming weekend, and we\u2019re likely going to get some fun last-minute build for Kenny Omega vs. MJF. Last week, MJF targeted Omega\u2019s battle with diverticulitis, suggesting his intestines are a fast-ticking time bomb. Ready to explode at any moment. MJF almost made the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4960,"featured_media":156732,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4677,6,2192],"tags":[8598,5730,8864,107,386,6803,3625],"class_list":["post-156720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aew","category-north-america","category-wrestling","tag-aew-collision","tag-aew-dynamite","tag-aew-dynasty","tag-chris-jericho","tag-kenny-omega","tag-queen-aminata","tag-willow-nightingale"],"modified_by":"Steph Franchomme","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156720","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4960"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=156720"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156720\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":157527,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156720\/revisions\/157527"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/156732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=156720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=156720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=156720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}