10 Things WWE Wants You To Forget About AJ Styles

6. The Styles Clash Drama

jericho styles clash
WWE.com

The Styles Clash has a bit of a checkered past.

In 2014, independent wrestler Lionheart broke his neck in two places after taking the move on a Preston City Wrestling show in England. The same year, Satoshi Kojima was lucky to escape with minor injuries when AJ lost his balance performing the finisher. Both incidents received coverage in the press.

By the time Styles had reached WWE, the damning verdict was in. Vince McMahon, keen to avoid unnecessary injuries or concussions, decided to ban the move. It wasn't until Chris Jericho tricked him that McMahon changed his mind and agreed to let AJ use the "move where he picks me up and dumps me on my face".

Had it not been for Jericho's intervention, the Styles Clash wouldn't have been seen on WWE TV. Unfortunately for AJ, James Ellsworth then bumped poorly on the finish in late-2016 and almost broke his neck. Had he been severely injured, the move would've been shelved permanently.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.