AJ Francis: I’m One Of The Only Heels Fans Actually Don’t Like

AJ Francis is taking some praise for the recent success of TNA Wrestling, as he has been somewhat of a gatekeeper for present-day main-eventers. Also, he takes pride in being one of the only villain wrestlers that fans actually dislike.

AJ Francis is taking credit for the rise of Joe Hendry in the past. Now, he’s repeating those sentiments in a new interview with Fightful and also taking credit for the recent surge of popularity for Mike Santana.

Speaking with Kate Elizabeth at the August 2025 WrestleCon, Francis called himself one of the best heels in wrestling. By extension, he also called First Class the best heel faction in wrestling. Why? Unlike many cool heels in pro wrestling, they are disliked.

“I felt very responsible for that attendance. Ever since I’ve been at TNA, it just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Some people were at TNA for a long time and it was getting smaller and smaller, and now, ever since I got to TNA, it’s gotten bigger and bigger and I’ve made other people’s careers bigger and bigger. Everyone I work with gets bigger and bigger. When they need Joe Hendry to get ready to be a world champion, they put him with me. When they need a stopgap between Joe Hendry and Nic Nemeth for the TNA World Title, they put it with me.

“When they have Mike Santana, he needs to get up and get a shine on him for the World Title, they put him with me. When we go to El Paso and we’re in Chavo Guerrero’s hometown and they need him to get up, they put him with me. So they know what they’re doing. They know who I am. They know what I do. You know what saying? So First Class is the biggest heel faction in wrestling. The biggest in TNA. I’m one of the only heels on earth that people actually don’t like.”

Recently, Mike Santana praised the work ethic of AJ Francis. Read those comments here.

WrestleCon has stated that they are likely on hiatus until WrestleMania 41 weekend in Las Vegas. Fans can keep up with those behind the convention and what is coming up next in the world of WrestleCon on social media.

Check out the full interview with Francis embedded above.