Chris Jericho revives Painmaker persona for AEW Redemption match

Chris Jericho announced that he will return to his “Painmaker” character for a rematch against Tommaso Ciampa at the AEW Redemption pay‑per‑view in Montreal, Canada on July 26. The challenge was delivered in a pre‑taped promo on Wednesday’s Dynamite, following a brutal Beach Break encounter in which Ciampa emerged victorious. Ciampa accepted the challenge and also confirmed he will appear on Thursday’s Collision in his hometown of Boston.

The Painmaker gimmick, a more violent version of Jericho’s persona first used during his brief stints in NJPW and previously in AEW in 2023, signals a shift toward an “anything‑goes” style for the upcoming bout. The Redemption card also features title defenses by Kenny Omega, Thekla, and Mark Davis, among other matches.