Wrestling legend Triple H just gave Attitude Era pal a top WWE job and fans are livid for one reason
Few figures in wrestling have endured a relationship with WWE quite like Brian James, better known to fans as Road Dogg. A grappling veteran, his wrestling career started in the 1980s in between tours of duty with the United States Marine Corp. Road Dogg was a key part of D-Generation XWWE James, however, is best known in WWE circles for his time as one half of legendary tag team The New Age Outlaws. Alongside Billy Gunn, Road Dogg enjoyed multiple title reigns, WrestleMania appearances and high-profile storylines that also saw him cement a place in the iconic WWE stable D-Generation X. It was a golden era of wrestling, with The New Age Outlaws teaming with Shawn Michaels and Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, and competing against other superstars in Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock. Later, though, James would be fired by WWE after a string of personal issues that included drug and alcohol problems. He ended up performing on the independent scene before a WWE comeback. James began working as a producer before becoming the lead writer on SmackDown during a period remembered by some fans for less-than-favourable reasons, before transitioning to a coaching role and, eventually, being released in 2022. Road Dogg, 55, has been sober for the better part of 15 years and, as of February 2024, was back in WWE juggling duties as an executive and an on-screen commentator. Good pal Levesque is now firmly in place as WWE’s Head of Creative and Chief Content Officer, in simple terms making him the man who oversees all of what makes it to air on the company’s programming. Now, The Game has moved to hoist his former DX buddy back into a role closer to one of his former positions, the veteran taking up the post of Co-Lead Writer for the Smackdown brand. While the blue brand will undoubtedly make use of the star’s undoubted experience and skills, a fair few fans were less than delighted with the news that James is back writing TV, not remembering fondly his previous spell in a similar role. In 2017, the decorated former champion would regularly engage in social media bickering with WWE fans who took a dislike to matches and shows he’d written. ‘They need someone to blame! It’s me!’ he hit back in one message, while another read: ‘Btw I’ve blocked 90 per cent of those people so I never saw their hate!’ Road Dogg won singles and tag team gold in his wrestling careerWWE Triple H is steering the on-screen WWE ship in 2025 as we head into WrestleMania seasonGetty With some of that madness still fresh in their minds, some are bracing themselves for what might be coming – though that may be a touch unfair on a WWE product that has been in fine form in recent months, with the company boasting record revenues and attendances. “So, I guess I’m gonna be watching just Raw and NXT now,” bemoaned one viewer. A second said: “So Smackdown isn’t worth watching for a few years, got it.” A third chimed in: “This has the potential to go very badly.” Some, however, were quick to offer Road Dogg a defence, insisting things will be different now he’ll be working under and with Triple H rather than ex-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, as was the case last time around. A further fan insisted: “Gotta give him a second chance. Mainly because back then he was under Vince’s watch. Let’s see what he can do under Triple H.” Even former WWE Champion and current star AJ Styles hit back, posting: “Before judging this guy from his past performance as the head writer. Just know that there was a man who picked it apart to the point that it was no longer his ideas anymore.” Quite how SmackDown shapes up under its new Co-Lead Writer remains to be seen but, with Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Drew McIntyre and Charlotte Flair all at his disposal, the opportunities are plentiful.
Few figures in wrestling have endured a relationship with WWE quite like Brian James, better known to fans as Road Dogg.
A grappling veteran, his wrestling career started in the 1980s in between tours of duty with the United States Marine Corp.
James, however, is best known in WWE circles for his time as one half of legendary tag team The New Age Outlaws.
Alongside Billy Gunn, Road Dogg enjoyed multiple title reigns, WrestleMania appearances and high-profile storylines that also saw him cement a place in the iconic WWE stable D-Generation X.
It was a golden era of wrestling, with The New Age Outlaws teaming with Shawn Michaels and Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, and competing against other superstars in Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock.
Later, though, James would be fired by WWE after a string of personal issues that included drug and alcohol problems. He ended up performing on the independent scene before a WWE comeback.
James began working as a producer before becoming the lead writer on SmackDown during a period remembered by some fans for less-than-favourable reasons, before transitioning to a coaching role and, eventually, being released in 2022.
Road Dogg, 55, has been sober for the better part of 15 years and, as of February 2024, was back in WWE juggling duties as an executive and an on-screen commentator.
Good pal Levesque is now firmly in place as WWE’s Head of Creative and Chief Content Officer, in simple terms making him the man who oversees all of what makes it to air on the company’s programming.
Now, The Game has moved to hoist his former DX buddy back into a role closer to one of his former positions, the veteran taking up the post of Co-Lead Writer for the Smackdown brand.
While the blue brand will undoubtedly make use of the star’s undoubted experience and skills, a fair few fans were less than delighted with the news that James is back writing TV, not remembering fondly his previous spell in a similar role.
In 2017, the decorated former champion would regularly engage in social media bickering with WWE fans who took a dislike to matches and shows he’d written. ‘They need someone to blame! It’s me!’ he hit back in one message, while another read: ‘Btw I’ve blocked 90 per cent of those people so I never saw their hate!’
With some of that madness still fresh in their minds, some are bracing themselves for what might be coming – though that may be a touch unfair on a WWE product that has been in fine form in recent months, with the company boasting record revenues and attendances.
“So, I guess I’m gonna be watching just Raw and NXT now,” bemoaned one viewer. A second said: “So Smackdown isn’t worth watching for a few years, got it.”
A third chimed in: “This has the potential to go very badly.”
Some, however, were quick to offer Road Dogg a defence, insisting things will be different now he’ll be working under and with Triple H rather than ex-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, as was the case last time around.
A further fan insisted: “Gotta give him a second chance. Mainly because back then he was under Vince’s watch. Let’s see what he can do under Triple H.”
Even former WWE Champion and current star AJ Styles hit back, posting: “Before judging this guy from his past performance as the head writer. Just know that there was a man who picked it apart to the point that it was no longer his ideas anymore.”
Quite how SmackDown shapes up under its new Co-Lead Writer remains to be seen but, with Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Drew McIntyre and Charlotte Flair all at his disposal, the opportunities are plentiful.
