Ex-WWE Star Demanded Release After Heated Confrontation with Vince McMahon

Francine entertained fans for years as a part of ECW, becoming an idol to many who grew up watching her. She also had interactions with Vince McMahon and recently revealed that she demanded her release after a confrontation with him.

Francine, the original Queen of Extreme, continued managing Justin Credible in Extreme Championship Wrestling until the legendary promotion folded in April 2001. With seven years under her belt working alongside Paul Heyman and ECW, she primarily served as a manager and valet, but also showcased her skills as a trained wrestler.

In a conversation with JBL and Gerald Brisco on Stories with Brisco & Bradshaw, Francine disclosed that she received a WWE offer in 2001. The 52-year-old discussed the possibility of reuniting with Credible in the X-Factor faction, envisioning a feud with Lita and The Hardys. However, she ultimately turned down the deal.

“When [ECW] went bankrupt, I got a call from WWE, and they wanted me to work with X-Factor, which was X-Pac, Justin Credible, Albert. But the way it was pitched to me, it was going to be right on RAW live, and it was them against the Hardys. So, I think Lita and I would’ve eventually went off and [wrestled on our own], but at that point I was 30 years old… in my mind, I was like, ‘They’re gonna make me train all over again to be like this wrestler,’ and I didn’t want to do that.”

Advertising

Advertising

Francine’s next WWE appearance came at ECW One Night Stand in June 2005. Despite signing with the newly launched ECW brand, her stint was short-lived. Francine has expressed her dissatisfaction with that period, recalling a confrontation with Vince McMahon that led her to request her release from John Laurinaitis.

“In 2006 I actually did sign, because I was told I was going to be a manager, but they had me doing bikini contests every weekend, and I was just like, ‘I don’t want to do this.’ I’m 34 years old, and I have to do all this bikini stuff, and I’m just like, ‘This is not what I signed up for.’ I even told Vince to his face, ‘Let me take Kevin Thorn’s finisher!’ He goes, ‘We don’t do that here.’ I said, ‘You don’t let the girls bump here?’ He goes, ‘Well, I didn’t watch ECW, I don’t know anything about you.’ All I did is go cry to Johnny Ace [John Laurinaitis], ‘Give me my release, I wanna go home.”

Francine also refused to oil herself up for Vince McMahon. Regardless, Francine will never have anything good to say about Vince McMahon and that is unlikely to ever change. In the meantime, Vince McMahon is still dealing with his trafficking lawsuit, which might not end anytime soon.

Do you feel bad for Francine after all she had to go through because of Vince McMahon? Let us know in the comments section below!