Released WWE Talent Makes Shock Appearance At GCW Holiday Special

A former WWE talent wasted no time in returning to professional wrestling after their 90-day non-compete clause came to an end on December 21. 

Mere hours after the non-compete clause expired, AJ Francis (FKA Top Dolla) appeared at GCW Holiday Special. Francis was initially under a mask to attack Joey Janela and upon laying out the former AEW talent, Francis removed the mask to a big reaction from the fans in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. 

Francis then continued to attack Janela and it was later announced the former Top Dolla will face Janela at GCW Look At Me on January 26 in Tampa, Florida. Other talents advertised for that event include Mansoor, Andrade el Idolo, GCW World Champion Blake Christian, Bussy, Masha Slamovich, and Maki Itoh. 

Holiday Special marked Francis' return to Game Changer Wrestling. He previously wrestled for the promotion at For The Culture in 2022, teaming with Tehuti Miles (AKA Ashante "Thee" Adonis) in a loss to Shane Taylor and O'Shay Edwards. 

AJ Francis was released by WWE in September of 2023 as part of major post-UFC merger cuts to the talent roster. Other former talents that are now free agents include Emma, Mustafa Ali, Shelton Benjamin, Elias, and Dolph Ziggler.