AJ Styles is officially handing over the keys to some of the most iconic moves of his career. The WWE veteran revealed he has no issue with younger wrestlers using the Styles Clash, the Phenomenal Forearm, or any other move tied to his legendary career once he is done wrestling.
During the latest episode of the Phenomenally Retro podcast, Styles revealed the open invitation. The conversation started after Dragon Lee recently reached out to Styles for permission to use the Styles Clash. According to Styles, he did not hesitate at all.
“Listen, Dragon did reach out and was like, ‘Hey man, you care?’ Please, please use it. Anybody who want to use it, it’s all yours,” Styles said.
Styles specifically referenced Will Ospreay already using a version of the Phenomenal Forearm and said he has zero problem seeing his moves continue to exist after his retirement.
“AJ Styles isn’t going to use it anymore. I hope it can find itself in professional wrestling for a long time,” Styles explained. “The phenomenal forearm, use it. It’s out there, I know Ospreay does it. Do it, dude. It doesn’t bother me, not one bit.”
A Different Approach To Legacy
That is a pretty different mindset compared to many wrestling veterans, especially when it comes to signature finishers that become directly attached to a wrestler’s identity over decades in the business. For Styles, though, the focus appears to be less about ownership and more about keeping the moves alive for the next generation.
The Styles Clash has been one of the most recognizable finishers in wrestling for years across WWE, TNA, NJPW, and multiple promotions around the world. The Phenomenal Forearm also became one of the defining moves of Styles’ WWE run after arriving in the company in 2016.
Now, Styles sounds more than ready to see younger stars carry both moves into the future. The three-time WWE Champion remains an active competitor on the SmackDown brand.