AJ Francis, currently reigning as TNA Digital Media Champion, is proud to emulate the success of Drew McIntyre and Matt Cardona after their WWE careers. Also known as Top Dolla when he was performing for WWE, Francis transitioned to TNA earlier this year and received his first championship title.
In a recent episode of the “Busted Open Radio” podcast, Francis opened up about his aspirations for major success following his departure from WWE. He stated, “I followed [Matt Cardona’s] blueprint … and guys like Drew McIntyre… He was like, ‘You’re demonstrating that you have real talent. Rule number one: believe in yourself. If I didn’t have faith in my abilities, I wouldn’t be in this position. Always look for ways to put that into practice.”
Both Cardona and McIntyre gained prestige and attention as they each secured championship titles after their WWE careers – Cardona with the NWA Worlds Title and McIntyre with the TNA World Title.
McIntyre made his comeback in WWE and has since become a three-time WWE World Champion. Cardona has hinted at a potential return but has not yet decided to take the leap.
The further success of AJ Francis in TNA can be witnessed in the following video, where he becomes the new Digital Media Champion.