WWE did not want AJ hosting the show initially because he had not debuted on TV yet.
This past March, the announcement was made the WWE expanded their partnership with A&E which includes the filming of a new season of ‘Most Wanted Treasures’. The host of season one was AJ Francis, formerly known as ‘Top Dolla’ of Hit Row.
Francis is no longer with WWE but he shared that he signed for multiple seasons of ‘Most Wanted Treasures’ through WWE Studios. He sat down with the Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling Podcast and reflected on that first season of the series. Initially, WWE did not want Francis hosting the show because he had not debuted on television at that point.
When she [Kate Wathall, Field Producer for WWE/A&E’s Most Wanted Treasures], Kate checked out my social media, she loved me and so she pitched me to the production team and they pitched me to the network and WWE actually didn’t want me to get the gig. They actually were actively trying to not have me be the host because I hadn’t been on TV yet, you know what I’m saying? But the network and the production team was like, nah, we want him. He’s good and clearly I showed that I was worth my weight so, it was a good call by them…
During Francis’ pro football career, he played for the-now Washington Commanders, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks and several more teams. Francis claims that when he ventured into pro wrestling and decided to immerse himself in it, he received offers from the NFL’s Raiders and Browns but turned down those opportunities.
What happened was when I left the NFL, I literally left the NFL while still having job opportunities in the NFL to start wrestling. The Raiders and the Browns both actually reached out to me after I decided to get into professional wrestling and I turned down the offer, because I just found something that I really love and enjoy doing.
Several weeks ago at GCW’s Collective weekend, The HitMakerZ (Francis, Briana Brandy & Tehuti Miles) appeared at ‘For The Culture’ and took on Shane Taylor Promotions (O’Shay Edwards & Shane Taylor).
If the quotes in this article are used, please credit the Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling Podcast with an H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcriptions.
