WWE great Chris Jericho, recently stated over an interview with Baby Huey & Bimbo Jimbo of 107.7 The Bone, that he played a major role in AJ Styles being able to use his “Styles Clash” finisher in the WWE. Initially, Vince McMahon did not want the move being used because he felt as if it was too dangerous having someone in that position where they could get dropped on their head.
Chris Jericho spoke on how he weaseled his way around it and got it across Vince McMahon, so that AJ Styles could use the move the has been in his arsenal for years.
Here’s what Y2J had to say:
“When A.J. came in I believed he was going to be a huge star, which of course he is. He had this finishing move called the Styles Clash which was kind of unofficially banned in the WWE because there was rumors that people had gotten hurt from it and all that sort of thing, but I knew it was a great move. I knew it was an easy move to take, I knew it was something that could give AJ an extra color to paint your pictures with. I basically started using it (taking it) during matches just so Vince could see it. I figured if he saw it and didn’t want me to do it then he would know and people were so mad at me because I was kicking out of the move like “Jericho’s burying A.J.” It’s like shut up you idiots I have a plan here. Eventually I went to Vince and said “Did you see that move that AJ Did?” Never using the words the Styles Clash because I knew that name is taboo. Oh, the Styles Clash you can’t do it. So, I said you know that move where he picks me up and dumps me on my face? He should use that as a finish” Yes, absolutely use it as a finish.” So, I was able to kind of indirectly able to get the move unbanned by just doing it and not asking for permission and never using the name Styles Clash when I talked to Vince about it. Now it’s one of AJ’s biggest moves. I believed it could work, I wanted to stand up for it, but once again, you have to be kind of sly about it sometimes. It was actually a pretty cool process and it makes for a great story in the book for sure.”
