Road Dogg has opened up about his departure from WWE, offering insight into why he stepped down as SmackDown co-head writer earlier this year and how he viewed the company near the end of his run.

Speaking on Busted Open Podcast, Road Dogg, real name Brian James, described feeling disconnected despite WWE’s ongoing business success.

“I still love wrestling, and I want to do wrestling, and I want to do it for somebody that wants it and needs it, and I feel like the WWE didn’t want it or need it anymore,” James said. “They were firing on all cylinders and making money and records… and I was complacent. I felt like I wasn’t earning, I was getting a check, but I felt like I wasn’t earning it, and I wasn’t having any fun either. It got to be so much work that it stopped being fun.”

He admitted fear played a role in delaying his exit.

“I actually stayed longer than I wanted to, just out of fear of unemployment,” he said, adding that his wife encouraged him to finally walk away. “She said she would ‘live with you in a tent,’ and I said, ‘I’m coming home right now.’”

James did not hold back when describing how WWE felt to him creatively.

“It felt like it turned into the business wrestling instead of the wrestling business,” he said. “It just feels like WWE right now, for me, was a money grab… it didn’t feel right. I wanted to step away.” He added, “The facts don’t give a f** about your feelings, and that’s the facts.”*

Looking ahead, James said he wants to contribute to a smaller promotion.

“I’m going to help somebody before this year is up… somebody that’s smaller, and that not only needs the help, but wants the help, wants to learn,” he said. “I am good at television wrestling… what I can do is put on a great television show with wrestling involved in it, and make it pretty.”

While speaking from Jacksonville, Florida, he referenced All Elite Wrestling but denied any immediate news, noting he was in town for a signing alongside Billy Gunn.

James also reflected on WWE’s past view of AEW as competition.

“No, no, no, we didn’t, and we probably should have,” he said. “It was looked at like… this other little money marks company… and I would argue… that was wrong to be looking at it that way.”

He added that AEW has grown stronger, specifically praising the addition of Mike Mansuri.

The appearance also served to promote Ohio Valley Wrestling’s upcoming milestone event, where James is set to handle commentary. He praised the promotion’s roster and Al Snow’s booking, while also noting a difference in WWE’s current presentation.

“Everybody seems like a top guy, like there’s no mid card entertainment,” he said.

After more than a decade in WWE creative, James said leaving lifted a long-standing burden.

“I’ve been nervous, job scared for 15 years, and then I quit,” he said. “and it’s like, oh, that’s all I had to do.”

Road Dogg Explains WWE Exit and Criticizes Company Direction

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