During her “Eyes Up Here” podcast, ECW Original Francine shared her experience of being called to feature at last week’s WWE NXT TV tapings at Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena.
Below are a few notable moments from the podcast:
On receiving an invitation to be part of WWE NXT: “John Cone from WWE Talent Relations, whom I crossed paths with back in 2006 during the ECW’s relaunch, called me. He offered me to be the special guest referee for a match featuring NXT talent Jaida Parker and Lola Vice,” Francine revealed.
She also mentioned her concerns about refereeing the match due to the past abdominal surgeries and a weakened core. “My husband reminded me of my past surgeries and asked if I think I will be able to handle the physical toll of handling the match. I took his concern into consideration and the next day, I informed John about my situation,” Francine added.
Alternative role suggested to WWE creative: “Seeing my physical limitations, I proposed to creative about being a guest timekeeper with a special spot planned. They seemed receptive, and I waited for their response. Two weeks later, I got a script indicating my role as a backstage interviewer a night before the event. But, unfortunately, I had lost my voice at that time and was not able to fulfill this role,” Francine said.
She was then offered to sit in the audience, a common practice for legends who cannot perform. She appreciated WWE’s accommodating attitude. “Despite offering to stay home, WWE included me in the opening of the show for which I was grateful,” she stated.
Feedback from fans after NXT event: “Looking at feedback from old school fans on social media, some were disappointed in my limited participation. I would have loved to do more, but my physical limitations held me back. Yet, just being part of the show was satisfying for me,” Francine elucidated.
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