TNA Wrestling, one of the top professional wrestling promotions in the world, is set to return to Philadelphia for two shows at the 2300 Arena on June 28 and June 29, 2024.

Ahead of the upcoming show, TNA Digital Media Champion AJ Francis spoke with PHILADELPHIA Today to talk about his journey into professional wrestling.

Francis began his professional athletic career in the National Football League after earning a collegiate scholarship.

However, being a wrestler was always a dream of his.

“Me personally, if I would have not gotten a college scholarship right out of high school, I would have become a wrestler then,” said Francis. “If I would have not made the NFL after college, I would have become a wrestler then.”

He, however, was able to play six years in the NFL before making the jump.

In 2018, Francis turned down multiple opportunities to continue his NFL career as he decided to fully immerse himself into the new world of professional wrestling.

“At that point, I had already moved on and I made the decision that I wanted to be a wrestler now, and I love the decision I made and I still love it everyday,” he said. 

Francis began his pro wrestling career with the WWE in 2020 as Top Dolla. Shortly thereafter, he became part of a faction, Hit Row. 

Since then, he has evolved his persona and began to shine more as a single’s competitor, joining TNA Wrestling earlier this year.

Recently, Francis won the TNA Digital Media Championship after defeating Laredo Kid. Despite his reign starting only about a month ago, Francis noted he has already elevated the title to heights rarely — if ever — seen throughout the history of the title.

“The TV exposure that I’ve given it, the amount of people when I won it and did my first promo with … I think I’m the greatest TNA Digital Media Champion of all-time,” he said. 

All in all, Francis speaks confidently about both his abilities in the ring and on the mic.

“I’m one of the best big men in the world,” he said, explaining how he uses his size and in-ring abilities to control each match he is in, winning the crowd over in the process.

Francis also praises himself as the best promo in wrestling.

“Because I don’t need anybody to write for me. I never have,” he said.

As the TNA Digital Media Champion, Francis calls on all-comers to face him in the ring and on the mic to showcase their abilities against him.

With TNA Wrestling heading to Philadelphia — one of the most prominent wrestling cities in the country — this week at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia, Francis has his eyes on one thing.

“To be in the same venue that some of the most iconic moments in wrestling happened and then be able to create my own moments in that same venue, what else could you ask?” Francis concluded.

Learn more about TNA Wrestling as it makes a stop in Philadelphia at TNAWrestling.com.

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