AJ Francis says TNA has given him the platform to continue proving why he’s a top wrestling star.
Francis spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard ahead of TNA Slammiversary, where he’ll face off with Elias. In addition to being a staple of TNA weekly programming, Francis is also an outspoken supporter of his work and the TNA roster. The former TNA Digital Media Champion explained his mindset, sharing that TNA is the best place for him and other talented performers to showcase why they are great.
“TNA is the right place for me because it allows me to show the value that I know I have. Am I good enough to be at the top of the card of every company in the wrestling business? Absolutely. And I’ve proven it time and time again,” Francis said.
“The amount of media attention that I generate just off my words is above the level of many people in this business who are in much better positions than me,” he said, pointing out that he drew a tremendous amount of criticism over a joke about the Young Bucks wearing fake sneakers.
TNA Wrestling is best for AJ Francis
Francis says he’s had the internet in the palm of his hand since then. He also knows he needs to use that spotlight and platform to prop his peers up, too.
“As a wise man once said, ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’ I understand that I should be the voice that speaks up for my people at my company because it’s easy for people to hate on something from the outside,” Francis explained.
“I say it all the time: hating is easy. There are so many haters in the world because hating is free. If you had to pay money to hate on people, there’d be way less hating in the world. But because hating is free, people want to be haters because it’s easy. Now I’ve reached a point where I recognize what’s best for me in this wrestling industry. And TNA is what’s best for me in this business.”
AJ Francis says TNA allows him to be himself and prove himself creatively
Francis praised TNA for not micromanaging its talent, sharing how he was only given a run time and a topic for his popular “cease-and-desist” segment. He said TNA is a place where creative people can thrive, calling it the perfect company for wrestlers who thrive on creativity.
“It’s not micromanaged, it’s not overanalyzed. It’s allowing a performer the ability to show that they are a great performer,” Francis said. “I’ve said this before: TNA is the perfect place for anybody who knows that they are a creative force. If you know what you bring to the table creatively, TNA is the perfect place for you. Because you’re going to get ample opportunity to prove just how good you are creatively.
“But if you’re used to someone saying, ‘Here’s a script, say these words, and then use those words and go out and be favorably booked because you’re somebody’s favorite,’ and now you have to actually make people care about you on your own, you’re going to flounder.”
TNA is the perfect place for real “characters” in wrestling
Francis pointed out how much success names like Mike Santana and Joe Hendry have had in TNA. He is also someone who benefitted from joining the company. He reiterated that pure wrestlers can also have a good time, too, but TNA will allow creative performers to flourish.
“If you’re really good at the full developmental art of being a professional wrestler, in the ring and out of the ring, where your character is 24/7, if that’s really who you are, this is the perfect place for you,” Francis said. “If you’re just a guy who likes to come to work and wrestle, you can still have a good time here, too. You can have a good time anywhere. But if you know the creative force that you are, TNA is the perfect place for you.”
Read More: Former TNA Star Joe Doering Passes Away After Battle With Brain Cancer
