Budget cuts are an unfortunate reality for WWE, often leading to the departure of popular stars, only to see them return later.
One such star, AJ Francis, known as Top Dolla from Hit Row, recently shared insights into his experiences, including conversations with Triple H.
Francis initially joined WWE in January 2020 but faced release in November 2021 due to pandemic-related budget constraints.
However, the faction reunited and made a surprise comeback on SmackDown in August 2022, featuring Dolla alongside B-Fab and Ashante “Thee” Adonis.
Unfortunately, Hit Row’s second run came to an end in fall 2023 with Dolla’s release amidst further budget cuts. Reflecting on his journey on the Insight with Chris Van Vliet podcast, Dolla recounted a pivotal phone call from Triple H and the conditions he set for his return in 2022:
“Then I get brought back because Hunter [Triple H] gets the power. And Hunter recognizes the wrong of the situation as well. So Hunter calls me and says, ‘When can I have you?’ And I was like, ‘Tomorrow if you booked a flight. I’m ready right now. … But I don’t want to come back if I’m not coming back with the rest of the Row [Hit Row].’ I don’t know if me saying that is the reason he decided to bring them back, too, or if he was already going to bring us all back, but I said that to him,”
Discussing Hit Row’s creative trajectory on the main roster, Dolla expressed frustration at the lack of cohesive planning:
“So, then two days later we set up a call with all of us, and Hunter laid out the plan, and then we re-debuted the week after that. And that’s when we came out in North Carolina, and it was a great time and the crowd reacted crazy. But then, like after that, like, there was never really a plan for Hit Row.”
Despite his departure from WWE, Francis has found success in various wrestling promotions. He returned to GCW and MLW, debuting in TNA and NWA.
His versatility and popularity continue to make waves in the wrestling world, showcasing his resilience and talent beyond his WWE tenure.
