Ever since IGWP Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles departed TNA, there have been rumors that the former TNA World Heavyweight Champion would surface in the WWE, but he recently said that he doesn't feel like it's the right time to join the No. 1 wrestling promotion in America.

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Styles spoke with Slam Wrestling and said it doesn't seem like the right time for him to join the WWE, especially amid the company's mass amount of budget cuts as of late.

"It sure doesn't seem like the right time to be going to WWE," Styles told the affiliate. "I think the best place for me right now is New Japan. I'm happy with everything that's going on there right now."

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Styles departed from TNA last year after contract negotiations between the two on an extension fell through and ultimately led to Styles walking out on the company.

Styles, 37, intimated that while the WWE may be out of the question, he would be fine with retiring in New Japan Pro Wrestling.

"At this point, I would be more than happy at some point in my career to just retire from New Japan," Styles said. "The respect that they have shown me ... and I'm not talking about being the heavyweight champion ... I'm talking about just overall treating me with respect and treating me like a star and trusting me to have great matches with guys I've never even been in the ring with. That means a lot to me. I hope that they see that 'this guy's going to help us out in the long run ... he's a team player.' And I'd be more to, when my time comes to retire, to retire from New Japan Pro Wrestling."

Since his departure from TNA, Styles has had some recent stints on the independent circuit, in New Japan Pro Wrestling and in Ring of Honor, but it remains to be seen if he'll ever set foot in a WWE ring.

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