Summary

Dragon Lee says AJ Styles personally gave him permission to use the Styles Clash, turning the move into more than just a tribute spot.

Lee and Styles teamed together on WWE programming from August 2025 until early January 2026. During that run, they won the World Tag Team Championship on Raw in October.

Now that Styles has retired from in-ring competition, Lee has started using the Styles Clash himself. In an interview with Joey Karni, Lee said that came only after Styles signed off on it.

Quote from Dragon Lee

"Man, just imagine how is my life. Being with the greatest of all time, Rey Mysterio, and now, being with the greatest of all time, AJ Styles… Nobody give this to me. I earned every single opportunity because I’ve been doing 100 percent what I’m telling you every single time when I step in the ring, and they knew, you know? Now, I took the Styles Clash, as honor from AJ but, not because I choose. They asked, and he told me, ‘It’s yours my brother…’ I earned the respect from the locker room but, earned the respect from legend, like Rey, like AJ. That’s unbelievable for me. It’s a dream come true, and I wanna honor every single time when I step in the ring to AJ, and I’m honored every single time when I step to Rey Mysterio, and I’m honored every single time when I step in the ring to all my Mexican pride, and all the people and every single people that watch and buy the ticket, if you watch WWE."

What AJ Styles' approval means for Dragon Lee

Styles giving Dragon Lee that kind of blessing matters because it makes the move feel like part of Lee's current WWE identity, not a borrowed finish without context. The endorsement also reinforces how much Lee's run alongside Styles and Rey Mysterio has shaped his presentation on the main roster.

The timing stands out too. With Styles set for induction into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 17 at Dolby Live in Las Vegas, Lee framing the Styles Clash as an honor adds even more weight to why he has chosen to keep the move in circulation.

Sources

Dragon Lee while speaking with Joey Karni