AJ Francis Interview: Joining WWE NXT, "Most Wanted Treasures", Playing In The NFL, More

The NFL-player-turned-wrestler talks hitting the road with The Undertaker and other icons.

Anthony Francis
WWE.com

Several former football players, most notably Roman Reigns and Goldberg, have managed to make the successful transition from the gridiron to the squared circle over the years, and AJ Francis is looking to add his name to that elite list.

The ex-NFL nose tackle, who played for the Patriots, Dolphins and the Redskins at various points throughout his career, fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a pro wrestler when he signed a developmental deal with WWE at the onset of 2020, right before the pandemic struck. Although Francis has yet to formally debut on NXT TV, the WWE Universe will get familiar with him quite quickly when he serves as the host on "WWE's Most Wanted Treasures," which premiered on April 18 on A&E.

The show will see Francis drive all over the United States with illustrious legends such as The Undertaker, Ric Flair, Mick Foley and Booker T in pursuit of lost WWE memorabilia. It's essentially a dream come true for the future NXT star, who is as charismatic and as confident as they come and is determined to leave his mark on the black-and-gold brand before long.

Following on from the grand premiere of "WWE's Most Wanted Treasures" on A&E, Francis spoke to WhatCulture about his involvement with the show, learning from the WWE Hall of Famers, his journey from the NFL to WWE, what football stadiums he wants to see host a WrestleMania someday, and more.

CONT'd...

Advertisement
Contributor
Contributor

Since 2008, Graham has been a diehard pro wrestling fan and, in 2010, he combined his passions for WWE and writing when he joined Bleacher Report. Equipped with a master's in journalism, Graham has contributed to WhatCulture, FanSided's Daily DDT, Sports Betting Dime, and GateHouse Media. Along the way, he has conducted interviews with wrestling superstars like Chris Jericho, Edge, Goldberg, Christian, Diamond Dallas Page, Jim Ross, Adam Cole, Tessa Blanchard, Ryback, and Nick Aldis among others.