TNA Teams Up with Albany Firebirds in Arena Football (56 characters)

Moose and AJ Francis have been announced as the Honorary Captains for the Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football League for the team’s home game on Thursday, May 2, against the Nashville Kats. The exciting news was announced jointly by TNA Wrestling and the Firebirds.

Both Moose and Francis will have the honor of being part of the pre-game Coin Toss and will also be participating in various activities, promotions, and team-events during the game. Make sure to catch the action with the kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at MVP Arena.

Fans can look forward to seeing the Firebirds at the TNA Wrestling shows in Albany on Friday and Saturday, May 3-4, at the Washington Avenue Armory.

In other news, Moose will be joining the Firebirds on Wednesday night, March 13, on their weekly Flock U Coaches Show, which will be streaming live starting at 6 p.m. ET. The show offers football fans a unique opportunity to engage with the key figures behind Capital Region Football.

The Firebirds are a founding team in the third installment of the Arena Football League. This marks the third time the Firebirds name has been used, with their previous appearances in 1990 to 2004 with the original Albany and Indiana Firebirds in the Arena Football League, and the Albany Firebirds of the af2 in 2009. The Albany Firebirds were established in 1990 and have a rich history in the Arena Football League, including a championship win in 1999.

The Arena Football League now features 16 teams, with the Firebirds kicking off their season on April 27th at home against the Orlando Predators.

TNA Wrestling is set to deliver back-to-back nights of high-energy, action-packed pro wrestling in Albany, marking their return to the city for the first time since October 2022. The action-packed weekend begins with UNDER SIEGE on Friday, a live event airing on the TNA+ app. Saturday will see the TNA television trucks in Albany to capture all the in-ring action for upcoming episodes of their flagship weekly TV show.

Tickets for both TNA shows in Albany will go on sale Saturday, March 16, at 10 a.m. EST on Ticketmaster.com or TNAWrestling.com.

Leading the Firebirds this season are head coach Damon Ware and defensive coordinator Dwayne Hollis. The team promises to bring intense, high-scoring football to the Albany community, featuring talented players like Darius Prince, Marquell Wade, Daquan Patten, and Arthur Hobbs.

For Albany Firebirds tickets, fans can visit Firebirdsafl.com, ticketmaster.com, head to the MVP Arena Box Office, or call the Albany Firebirds office at (518) 557-8799.

Both Moose and Francis bring years of wrestling experience to the table, with Moose currently reigning as the TNA World Champion. However, their athletic journey began in the NFL.

Moose, also known as Quinn Ojinnaka, reclaimed the TNA World Championship at the Hard To Kill pay-per-view event in Las Vegas. Before making his mark in pro wrestling, Moose played as an offensive lineman in the NFL for four teams over seven seasons, including the New England Patriots. His NFL career included playing alongside legendary quarterback Tom Brady and being coached by NFL great Bill Belichick.

Moose’s transition from the NFL to becoming a World Champion in pro wrestling puts him in an elite category, alongside only four other former NFL players who have achieved such a feat. Sports Illustrated even covered Moose’s incredible journey in this article: https://tinyurl.com/r8hdutuy.

On the other hand, AJ Francis’s football journey took him from college ball at Maryland to making a name for himself in the NFL with various teams such as the Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, and more. In January 2020, Francis signed with WWE and competed under the ring name Top Dolla.

Apart from his athletic achievements, Francis has also dabbled in music and gained viral fame in 2015 as an Uber driver during his off-season with the Dolphins.

It’s clear that both Moose and Francis bring a wealth of experience and excitement to the Albany Firebirds and the TNA Wrestling community. Stay tuned for a thrilling season ahead!