AJ Francis says he drew backstage heat during his WWE run after a celebrity guest requested to meet him over Brock Lesnar and Randy Orton. The former Top Dolla, who now wrestles under the name Francis in TNA Wrestling, shared the story during a recent appearance on The Wrestling Classic.
According to Francis, the incident took place around WWE Money in the Bank 2023 in London. He recalled that a celebrity guest known as Expressions, who is now his partner in TNA, specifically asked to meet him backstage rather than being introduced to bigger WWE names such as Brock Lesnar or Randy Orton. Francis said that request did not sit well with some people behind the scenes at the time.
Francis did not go into detail about who exactly expressed frustration over the situation or what further consequences, if any, followed the incident. The claim comes solely from his own recollection on The Wrestling Classic podcast, and WWE has not publicly commented on the matter.
The story is notable in part because of the current connection between Francis and Expressions. The two are now aligned together in TNA Wrestling, the same promotion Francis has called home since departing WWE. Francis was released by WWE in 2024 after performing as Top Dolla, including time spent in the Hit Row stable.
Brock Lesnar and Randy Orton remain two of WWE’s most decorated attractions, and the idea of a celebrity guest bypassing them backstage in favor of a lesser-known act illustrates how unpredictable backstage dynamics and fan interest can be at a major pay-per-view like Money in the Bank. Francis framed the episode as an example of the kind of politics that can play out away from the cameras in WWE, though he did not claim it had any bearing on his eventual release from the company.
Francis has been outspoken in interviews since moving to TNA about his time in WWE, and this account adds another anecdote to his public reflections on that chapter of his career. With Expressions now working alongside him in TNA, the pair’s history dating back to that 2023 backstage moment in London adds a layer of continuity to their current partnership.
