AJ Francis Signs New Deal With TNA Wrestling

Moments ago, the news was broken by Steven Muehlhausen of Sports Illustrated on his social media Twitter account that current TNA star AJ Francis has signed a new contract with TNA Wrestling.

TNA Wrestling took to their social media Twitter account to confirm the news.

Just a few days ago, AJ Francis put up a poll on his social media asking fans where he should go. The choices were AEW and WWE.

I then commented that he should sign a new deal with TNA. He said this was possible.

AJ Francis is a former TNA Digital Media Champion who made his debut with the company at the Hard To Kill PPV last January.

Sports Illustrated talked with AJ about why he stayed and when the deal came together.

The Takedown: What led to the decision to stay with TNA Wrestling?

AJ Francis: TNA has taken care of me over the last year. A year ago, I wasn’t the most sought after free agent. A year ago, people thought I wasn’t going to wrestle anymore. A year ago, people thought that my wrestling career might be done. And a year ago, TNA took me in for their very first show, Hard To Kill in (Las) Vegas. That was the very first night that I interacted with Joe Hendry. One year later, Joe Hendry’s the biggest star in wrestling.

It’s been a blessing with the fact that TNA has done so much for me in the last year. Obviously, this is a business. It’s not called the wrestling friendship. It’s called the wrestling business. I always wanted to go back to TNA. 

TNA, in one year, took me from someone that people pretended couldn’t wrestle to a bona fide main eventer to the best big man in the business. If TNA could do that in one year, imagine what they could do in another year where I start the year as a bona fide main eventer. I’m very much happy with the decision to take my talents back to TNA.

The Takedown: When did you make this decision to decide that TNA is where you’re planting the flag?

AJ Francis: Yesterday. Literally, we had a discussion yesterday. We had a final discussion really this morning. Today was the last day of my current deal. I know my worth. I’m glad that TNA was able to make it happen. I got what I wanted out of the deal. I was willing to go into free agency if it didn’t pan out how I wanted it to. Luckily, everything was able to come together. Another year in TNA. Another year proving that I am the best big man in the business. Another year chokeslamming people out of their damn boots.

TNA this year, we’re doing bigger venues than we had in the past. We got the UBS Arena (for Slammiversary). We got big venues this year, big shows. We’re going live sometime this year on Thursdays. This is a big year for TNA. It’s a big year for us to prove who TNA is. We came back as TNA, and this wasn’t just a rebrand. It wasn’t just lipstick on a pig. It was a complete change. It allowed us to prove why we’re the best company. We’re gonna give you absolutely fire matches from the best performers in the world, and an atmosphere unlike anywhere else. 

It means a lot to me that these guys understand my value and how good I am. Because for the longest time, I was the only person that seemed to understand it. So a year ago, I told anybody who was in my life a year ago. I told people this going to happen. When I got released from WWE, I told Bully Ray the only place I wanted to go was TNA. I was like, in a year’s time, I’m going to show people that I’m a main eventer. And that’s exactly what happened.

H/T Steven Muehlhausen for transcription.

AJ most recently fought Nic Nemeth for the TNA World Title at the TNA Turning Point PLE a few weeks ago, and while he fell short – AJ looked great and the match was a fantastic way for the company to close out 2024 as the last live match of the year.

Last week, TNA Wrestling confirmed the Bodyslam report of TNA landing a new distribution deal with SportsNet 360 in Canada starting this week.

What will 2025 hold for TNA Wrestling ? The only way to find out is to strap in and go along for the ride. Keep watching on AXSTV (for now?), TNA +, and as of TOMORROW, SportsNet 360 in Canada.

Make sure you watch all the stars of TNA WRESTLING EVERY Thursday!

-TNA+ App. Sign up here. (Watch weekly iMPACT! episode simulcasted at the same time as AXSTV – 8pm Eastern /7pm Central)
-AXSTV in USA
-SportsNet 360 (starting January 2nd) in CANADA

-AYOZAT TV (Sky 179) in UK

Follow Gerard at @BearDown316 on Twitter

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