News

AJ Styles Reacts To TNA Wrestler Using Signature Move

By John Canton • Published Aug 18, 2025 17:50 EDT
AJ Styles

AJ Styles made an interesting mark when a TNA wrestler used one of his famous moves.

For over 20 years, AJ Styles has used the Styles Clash as one of his finishing moves. In addition to the Styles Clash, AJ has also used moves like the springboard Phenomenal Forearm or the submission Calf Crusher, but the Styles Clash is the one that AJ will be remembered for the most.

The Styles Clash is a move where Styles stands in a vertical position while he holds his opponent upside down. Styles hooks the legs with his arms and uses his legs to trap the arms. That leads to Styles jumping and smashing his opponent’s face into the mat. There have been some wrestlers who have tucked their heads and suffered injuries, but most wrestlers know not to do that and avoid being hurt.

While AJ Styles has been a WWE superstar for nearly a decade, he was one of the biggest names in TNA for over a decade, starting when the promotion launched in 2002.

At TNA Slammiversary, AJ Styles returned “home” to praise the new X-Division Champion, Leon Slater, who is just 20 years old. Styles said that Slater earned the title and the moment, while also praising TNA as a company.

When Slater defended the TNA X-Division Title against Cedric Alexander at Emergence, Slater did a Styles Clash during the match. Slater followed up with the Swanton 450 off the top for the win to retain the title.

AJ Styles saw the Styles Clash on Twitter/X, and gave Slater a new name for when he does the move: Slater Clash.

AJ Styles Cost Dominik Mysterio The AAA Grand Championship At TripleMania 33

At the AAA TripleMania 33 special event in Mexico City, AJ Styles made a surprising appearance during the AAA Grand Championship match.

The match saw El Hijo del Vikingo defend the AAA Grand Championship against Dominik Mysterio, El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser in a mask), and Dragon Lee in a chaotic and competitive match. Late in the match, a masked man attacked Dominik. It was revealed to be Styles, who gave Dirty Dom a Styles Clash. Vikingo went up top and hit a 630 Splash for the pinfall win to keep the title.

Styles has been feuding with Dominik for the IC Title for a few months, so it appears as though that rivalry is going to continue.