Road Dogg Departs WWE Amidst Creative Team Restructuring
WWE’s creative department is undergoing changes, with veteran writer Brian “Road Dogg” James departing his role as co-lead writer for SmackDown, according to reports from Sports Illustrated and F4WOnline. The move comes as the company prepares for its biggest event of the year, WrestleMania 42.
Road Dogg’s Departure
Brian James, known as “Road Dogg,” reportedly made the decision to leave his position, as confirmed by PWInsider.com. He had been with WWE in a creative capacity since 2014, with a brief departure in 2022, and most recently served as co-lead writer for SmackDown alongside John Swikata. Ringside News notes this was James’ second stint on WWE creative.
James’ previous role as head writer of SmackDown ended in 2019. He was brought back to the creative team after Paul “Triple H” Levesque assumed a leadership position within the company. During his earlier tenure, James faced criticism from fans, though AJ Styles publicly defended his work, suggesting that former Chairman Vince McMahon significantly altered his ideas. F4WOnline reported on Styles’ defense of James.
Alexandra Williams Promoted to Lead Writer for Raw
Alongside James’ departure, WWE has announced a promotion within its creative team. Alexandra Williams has been elevated to Vice President and Lead Writer for Monday Night Raw, overseeing all creative development for the show, according to Sports Illustrated. Williams previously held the position of Senior Writer and Producer, joining WWE in 2020.
Road Dogg’s Wrestling Career
Brian Girard James, born May 20, 1969, is a retired professional wrestler best known for his time in WWE as The Roadie (1994-1995) and “Road Dogg” Jesse James (1996-2001). According to Wikipedia, he achieved success as part of The New Age Outlaws, winning the WWF World Tag Team Championship five times and later holding the WWE Tag Team Championship once. He also had a successful run in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) as B.G. James. James was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019 as part of D-Generation X.
Currently, James also holds the position of Senior Vice President of Live Events for WWE, as noted by Wikipedia.