TNA wrestler AJ Francis recently made bold and provocative claims, asserting that he played a key role in boosting the careers and popularity of several notable wrestlers, including "viral sensation" Joe Hendry and current TNA World Champion Trick Williams. In an interview with Malcolm on the "Muscle Memory" YouTube channel, Francis confidently stated that he is "the greatest star of this generation" due to his talent for elevating those around him.
Francis pointed to various examples to back up his statements, starting with TNA Digital Media Champion Casey Navarro. He explained that Navarro’s talent hadn’t improved over the past year; rather, Navarro gained more attention because of Francis’s influence. Francis made a similar argument about Rich Swan’s progress.
His boldest assertions concerned Joe Hendry and Trick Williams. Francis claimed that Joe Hendry only began wrestling with him after he chose not to download Hendry’s music, implying that his involvement influenced Hendry’s rise. Regarding Trick Williams, Francis suggested that Williams initially received boos because he was associated with Francis’s "First Class" stable, which portrayed a heel (villain) persona. He claimed people disliked him personally, affecting Trick’s reception. Francis also addressed fans, saying he doesn’t mind if people now like him but that he remains true to himself, even if it leaves a "bad taste" for some.
If quoting any material from this article, please credit Malcolm of Muscle Memory and wrestlingnews.co for transcription.
Fan Take: AJ Francis’s comments offer an intriguing look into the dynamics behind TNA’s rising stars and hint at the influence wrestlers can have behind the scenes. For TNA fans, this could signal upcoming shifts in storylines and character development, potentially shaking up the status quo in the promotion and adding fresh intrigue to the sport.
