WWE Rumors: Chris Jericho leaving RAW after May 1st episode, return date unknown

What’s the story?

According to IBT, Chris Jericho will leave WWE on a temporary hiatus after the May 1^st episode of WWE RAW, which is the first RAW after WWE Payback where Jericho will face WWE United States Champion, Kevin Owens.

In case you didn’t know

Jericho and Owens have been feuding ever since Owens turned on Jericho during the ‘Festival of Friendship’ on the February 13^th episode of RAW. The two had been ‘best friends’ in storyline until then and Owens later successfully challenged Jericho for the WWE United States Championship at WrestleMania 33.

Owens was later transferred to SmackDown Live during the WWE Superstar Shake-Up.

The heart of the matter

Jericho looks set to leave WWE for now on May 1^st to go on tour with his band ‘Fozzy’. With his departure imminent, it is not yet known when Y2J will return to a WWE ring. As per the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the earliest date for a return seems to be late June, when Fozzy’s tour wraps up.

What’s next?

Chris Jericho will be challenging Kevin Owens for the WWE United States Championship this Sunday at WWE Payback.

It will be interesting to see how Jericho is written off RAW. According to WrestlingRumors.net, there is a chance that ‘The Drifter’ Elias Samson could attack Jericho and have a match with him before Jericho departs on his hiatus.

Author’s take

This has been one of Chris Jericho’s most successful runs with WWE in recent years. Fans have really been into his current gimmick and it’s a shame that this run must come to an end. However, if the Elias Samson rumour does come true, it will be interesting to see if Samson can actually use the rub Jericho gives him and take it somewhere.

As far as Jericho’s return is concerned, the WWE Universe will be eagerly waiting for him to come back to where he belongs.