AJ Francis, the former Top Dolla, arrived in TNA at Hard To Kill and now, the 33-year-old has inked a deal with the Anthem-helmed organisation.

Per Fightful Select, the deal will see Francis remain with TNA through 2024, though he’ll be allowed to make appearances for certain external promotions that lack a mainstream North American television deal; in other words, he’s forbidden from appearing on either WWE or AEW programming - and, by association, ROH - until at least 2025.

Brought into TNA at Hard To Kill by senior producer Tommy Dreamer, it’s said that AJ Francis has already impressed several backstage personnel through his feud vs. Joe Hendry. Now aligned with Rich Swann as the recently-dubbed First Class, Francis will corner the former TNA World Champion at April 20’s Rebellion when he collides with Hendry.

AJ Francis-WWE: Is The Relationship Done?

Having now been released from WWE twice, AJ Francis’ relationship with WWE should be in tatters - but it’s the opposite.

Fightful Select noted that Francis remains on good terms with Triple H, who was reportedly “very high” on Hit Row, Francis’ NXT - and briefly SmackDown - stable. This continued strong relationship allowed AJ to be present during the WrestleMania 40 Kickoff event in Las Vegas as well as backstage during a recent Monday Night Raw broadcast.

AJ Francis noted in a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet that it was Triple H who made the call to bring him back in August 2022, alongside Hit Row stablemates Ashante ‘Thee’ Adonis and B-Fab (H/T Chris Van Vliet):

“Then I get brought back because Hunter gets the power. And Hunter recognises the wrong of the situation as well. So Hunter calls me and says, When can I have you? And I was like tomorrow if you booked a flight, I’m ready right now. I was like, but I don’t want to come back if I’m not coming back with the rest of the Row. I don’t know if me saying that is the reason he decided to bring them back too or if he was already going to bring us all back. But I said that to him.”

AJ Francis would be let go from his second WWE deal in September 2023 alongside such names as Dolph Ziggler, Mustafa Ali, and Shelton Benjamin.