Who should be the next star to join WWE's roster?

WWE should have signed Styles when they had the chance, it’s never to late though

Now that Sting has made his way to the circus and appeared in two WWE pay-per-view events, fans should be asking the wrestling promotion, “Who’s Next?”

It’s not a plea for Bill Goldberg to reappear at a local arena near you, rather who will be the next wrestler who hasn’t appeared in a WWE sanctioned event – the male (or female) we all want to see making it happen for Vince McMahon and the circus.

My list is short, but an indictment of missed opportunity, the desire for wrestling to change gears a bit. While WWE has welcomed the “Icon” Sting and welcomed back Bubba Ray and Devon Dudley, the next in line should be AJ Styles as the game changer this promotion needs.

Yes, I said needs. Think of it in these terms…

Sting and the Dudley’s. Samoa Joe is bidding his time in NXT. Jeff Hardy is rumored to be headed back up north to the circus and at some point, which I think is sooner than later, Kurt Angle could end his career on a WWE mat. Styles helps the TNA invasion of talent that WWE has needed for some time. It’s the kind of infusion of epinephrine a promotion in decline needs. It also singles the end of TNA wrestling and the rebirth of WWE sports entertainment.

Styles accomplishments rival those of veterans likes Sting, Randy Orton, and even Undertaker.

Styles held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship three times, and the TNA World Heavyweight Championship twice. He was also the inaugural TNA X Division Champion, a title he has held six times. Styles has held the Television Championship twice: once when it was called the TNA Legends Championship, and once when known as the TNA Global Championship. Styles is also a decorated tag team wrestler, having been a seven-time world tag team champion in his career (NWA - twice; TNA - twice; Ring of Honor - once).

By winning the TNA X Division, NWA World Tag Team, and NWA World Heavyweight Championships, Styles was the first to complete the TNA Triple Crown Championship. Styles went on to complete this Triple Crown five more times; he is the only performer to accomplish this more than once. His victory over Booker T for the TNA Legends (then Television) Championship made him the first man to have ever won the TNA Grand Slam Championship, which he has done twice.

He is also the only performer in TNA history to have held every male championship owned and/or sanctioned by TNA throughout its history. All totaled, Styles has held 19 championships in TNA. In 2010, he became the first TNA-contracted wrestler to be ranked #1 on Pro Wrestling Illustrated‍ ' s annual PWI 500 list.

Styles ended his long association with TNA in 2013 after his contract expired, returning to ROH (where he is a former Pure Wrestling and World Tag Team Champion). In March 2014, Styles signed a non-exclusive deal with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), and took the promotion's top championship—the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, in his first match with the company.

Between TNA, ROH, and NJPW, Styles has held seven world championships and 23 championships, overall. Concurrent with his NJPW and ROH work, Styles also performs on the independent circuit, where he has held numerous additional championships, as well.

Styles ability to change the course of WWE’s need for a main event star to ease the pain of Daniel Bryan’s injury woes, Randy Orton playing the role of bit player and the in and out booking of Brock Lesnar.

And who wouldn’t want to see a potential 5-star feud with Seth Rollins or Kevin Owens? Styles would give WWE options and a star many who have not followed TNA a chance to see his brilliance in the ring. If there is one thing Styles does it gives the company options doesn’t have right now.

Those options could make the difference between a much better 2016 and the way things are right now.