'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Tony Khan and AEW presented the second annual Worlds End pay-per-view in Orlando, FL, last night, and most of the company's major stars were in attendance. The promotion also hosted several independent talents and former WWE Superstars backstage, including A.J. Francis, fka Top Dolla.
Francis was released from WWE in September 2023, and he's been building himself up on the indie scene since then. The 34-year-old has also made appearances in TNA and NWA.
The former Hit Row member was mingling backstage at AEW Worlds End last night, and he took to X (fka Twitter) today to thank Tony Khan & Co. for the opportunity. He also showed off the "one day talent" sticker he was assigned:
Trending
"'One Day Talent' 💰Thank you to @TonyKhan @QTMarshall & @ShawnDean773 for allowing me to see some friends and have a fun night," Francis wrote.
Tom Pestock (fka Baron Corbin) was also reportedly backstage at Worlds End. However, unlike Francis, Pestock is still bound by his 90-day non-compete clause after being released by WWE.
AJ Francis opens up on possible reunion with Swerve Strickland in AEW
While there have been no reports of A.J. Francis being offered a contract by All Elite Wrestling, he hasn't ruled out the Jacksonville-based promotion as a potential landing spot. The former Top Dolla has even given his thoughts on a reunion with Swerve Strickland.
Francis and Strickland once teamed together as part of Hit Row in WWE, and the 34-year-old believes that they could make a lot of money together in AEW, as he told Straight Talk Wrestling:
"Me versus Swerve would make so much money. Just the promos alone, the backstory, but I don’t think it’s ever gonna happen, and sadly, there’s a million reasons why I don’t think it’s ever gonna happen. Mainly because I love my time in TNA."
Francis was also recently spotted with members of The Hurt Syndicate. While there's no word on where he's heading after TNA, it's possible he could show up on a future episode of Dynamite or Collision.
