Chris Jericho On How He Got The Styles Clash Unbanned In WWE

Chris Jericho made his return to WWE programming in January of 2016, and returning to TV proved to be a very wise decision. Jericho’s last run was without a doubt one of the best runs of his career, and he got to work with many of today’s top stars including AJ Styles.

Jericho and Styles started off as friends, but they became bitter enemies after Jericho turned on AJ. When their feud kicked off, AJ was still very new to WWE, and his infamous finishing move the Styles Clash was “unofficially banned” according to Chris Jericho.

The Styles Clash had a negative stigma attached to it at the time because a few people had gotten hurt while taking the move before AJ arrived in WWE. However, Chris Jericho knew it was a move that would help AJ get over, and during a recent interview with Baby Huey & Bimbo Jimbo of 107.7 The Bone, Jericho explained how he convinced Vince McMahon to let Styles use the move.

“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.”

There’s no denying that Chris Jericho is the best in the world at what he does, and luckily he decided that getting the Styles Clash unbanned was something he wanted to do. So next time you see AJ Styles use the move on SmackDown Live or at a pay-per-view, just remember you have Chris Jericho to thank.