Eric Bischoff Suggests AEW Should Consider Hiring Road Dogg After WWE Exit

Eric Bischoff Suggests AEW Should Consider Hiring Road Dogg After WWE Exit

Eric Bischoff believes Brian James could be exactly what Tony Khan and All Elite Wrestling need following James’ recent departure from WWE.

The WWE Hall of Fame member, widely known to fans as Road Dogg, parted ways with WWE earlier this month after spending more than a decade working behind the scenes as a writer and producer. During a recent episode of the 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff discussed the situation and suggested that AEW should strongly consider bringing him into the company’s creative structure.

According to Bischoff, Road Dogg’s experience in wrestling storytelling could help address several areas where he believes AEW’s creative process has struggled.

“I think if he’s got desire to remain in creative, personally, I would love to see him sit down with Tony Khan, because he’s exactly what Tony Khan needs.”

Bischoff also noted that if AEW is looking to strengthen its creative direction, adding someone with Road Dogg’s background could be beneficial.

“If I’m AEW, and I’m maybe hanging on by a thread, the first guy I would go to is someone like Road Dogg because he can help.”

He specifically pointed to what he sees as weaknesses in AEW’s storytelling approach and said that James’ experience could help improve those areas.

“He can help specifically with the weaknesses and the flaws in the AEW approach.”

At the same time, Bischoff acknowledged that a potential partnership between James and AEW leadership might not be easy due to personality differences.

If AEW ultimately chooses not to pursue James, Bischoff suggested that TNA Wrestling could be another logical destination. The promotion, which continues working to strengthen its position with its television partner, could benefit from adding an experienced creative voice.

“That’s probably the most obvious, most likely place they would land, because of their need and his skillset.”

Bischoff also emphasized the importance of chemistry within a wrestling creative team, explaining that a strong working environment is often key to producing successful television.

He added that Road Dogg may have found it difficult to adapt to WWE’s modern structure, which he believes has become far more corporate than it was in previous eras.

“He’s a good guy, but he’s old school.”

Bischoff went on to explain that during the era when Vince McMahon ran WWE, the company operated under a much different creative culture.

“From the outside looking in, WWE has become so corporate that a guy like Road Dogg, who’s not a corporate guy, he’s a square peg that’s being forced into this round corporate hole.”

Because of that shift, Bischoff believes James may ultimately find more success in a wrestling promotion with a less corporate creative environment.

“In that corporate, sanitized, ultra-corporate environment, a guy like Road Dogg is going to struggle.”

Eric Bischoff Suggests AEW Should Consider Hiring Road Dogg After WWE Exit

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The Godfather Talks WWE Career, Undertaker, More

The Godfather Talks WWE Career, Undertaker, More

Charles Wright portrayed several characters during his WWE career, including Sir Charles, Papa Shango, Kama Mustafa, and eventually The Godfather. While each role had its place in WWE history, Wright says his time as The Godfather was the most meaningful period of his career.

During a recent interview with Rewind Recap Relive, Wright explained that he was deeply connected to the character and was having the most fun of his career portraying The Godfather on WWE programming.

“I was a mark for the Godfather. The Godfather was me. So, I was my biggest mark. So when they took the Godfather away… Believe me, Vince fought for me till the end, but things were changing… they put me in the Right to Censor.”

Wright admitted that once the character was removed, he considered leaving the company. Financially, he said he was in a comfortable position thanks to outside business ventures, including a Las Vegas strip club he co-owned.

“Vince told me, I’m like, ‘Well, finish me up.’ He’s like, ‘Charles, wait a minute.’ I’m like, ‘Vince, come on, bro. At this point in my life, financially, I’m cool. I have other things. I had a strip club in Vegas called Cheetah. I was one of the owners of that. I’ve always had that. So, it wasn’t about the money at that point. I wanted to go out as the Godfather.”

Instead of letting him leave, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon convinced Wright to stay a little longer and placed him in the Right to Censor faction. Wright eventually teamed with Bull Buchanan and even captured the WWE Tag Team Championship.

“So, I finished up and did some stuff with him. Vince, being the Joker that he was, dropped the tag team belts on me and Bull [Buchanan]. We beat the Hardy Boyz, and that kept me there even longer. I said, ‘As soon as we drop these belts, I’m gone.’ At that point, wrestling was fun for me. I was having such a good time as the Godfather that I didn’t want to do it anymore.”

Wright wrestled his final WWE match in 2002 on Velocity before stepping away from full-time competition. Despite that, he revealed that WWE has continued to reach out to him over the years.

“Dude, they never let me go. I’m not trying to blow steam up my own ass, but I’m just telling you, they never let me go. I never asked to come back. They would always call me.”

He explained that he often turned down potential storylines because he did not want to return to the demanding travel schedule wrestlers once maintained.

“They would call me with angles, and I’m like, ‘I’m not doing that.’ But mind you, financially, I had money coming in. So it was easy for me to say no. I’m like, ‘No, I’m not going on the road. I’m not getting hit over the head with chairs and tables.’ Back then, man, you were wrestling 300 days a year. It’s not like it is now.”

During the interview, Wright also spoke about his long friendship with The Undertaker, revealing that they first met in 1987.

“I met him in 1987. Right away, we became really good friends, and we’ve been friends ever since.”

He joked that his win-loss record against The Undertaker was not impressive, noting that he only managed to defeat him once in a handicap match.

“I don’t have a good record against The Undertaker. There are a lot of characters. But I tell people I’ve been put in caskets as Papa Shango [and] Kama. I’ve been beaten up as Godfather [and] Kama Mustafa. I’ve wrestled that man under five or six different gimmicks, and I beat him one time in a handicap match.”

Wright also recalled how that victory came together.

“I came back to be Papa Shango. They made me Kama Mustafa. Just as soon as I get to TV, they’re like, ‘Hey, change of plans.’ Me and Ron Simmons had a match. That’s the first time I met Ron Simmons, who’s a great friend of mine now. They say, ‘You and Ron Simmons are going to wrestle Undertaker, and you’re going to go over with a finish.’ I’m like, ‘What?’ That’s how that happened.”

The Godfather Talks WWE Career, Undertaker, More

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Final AEW Revolution Betting Odds Suggest Possible Title Changes

Final AEW Revolution Betting Odds Suggest Possible Title ChangesAdam Page                     +250     (5/2)Kris Statlander               +600     (6/1)Konosuke Takeshita       +110     (11/10)The Young Bucks           -180     (5/9)Mistico & Jet Speed       +700     (7/1)Bandido                          +250     (5/2)Swerve Strickland          -1000    (1/10)

Note: The match opened Swerve -400 and King +250. The match has moved with Swerve now a massive favorite.

With AEW Revolution set for Sunday, these final betting odds provide an indication of how oddsmakers expect the card to play out, though surprises are always possible once the action begins.

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UFC Fight Night 269: Emmett Vs. Vallejos Live Results

Welcome to Wrestling Inc.’s coverage of UFC Fight Night 269, headlined by Josh Emmett versus Kevin Vallejos in featherweight action at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas. 

Vallejos will be looking to extend his unbeaten UFC run against the 41-year-old veteran while Emmett is looking to get back to winning ways after back-to-back defeats. They’re not the only featherweights in action, with Andre Fili taking on Jose Miguel Delgado and Marwan Rahiki taking on Harry Hardwick. 

Charles Johnson will be facing Bruno Silva, having stepped up to replace Lone’er Kavanagh in the bout after he himself had stepped up to beat Brandon Moreno at flyweight two weeks ago. 

Ion Cutelaba will be facing Oumar Sy at light heavyweight, and the only women’s action on the main card will come at strawweight between Amanda Lemos and Gillian Robertson. 

The event will be available to watch on Paramount+ for those in the US, as well as UFC Fight Pass and TNT Sports internationally, with the preliminary fights due to start at 5 PM ET, and the main card at 8 PM ET. 

Charles Johnson vs. Bruno Silva – Flyweight Three Rounds

Round one starts and Bruno Silva tries to find the range, Charles Johnson goes into the clinch and lands two kicks before shooting unsuccessfully for the double-leg takedown. 

Silva pushes Johnson up against the cage. Silva continues to lead with his left and pressure Johnson onto the outside, catches him a solid right hand and a right kick to the body. Silva continues to pressure and Johnson goes into the clinch against the cage again. Johnson guards an attempted takedown and connects a solid elbow to push Silva back. 

Johnson tries to slip in twice but both times gets caught with an uppercut to halt him, Silva follows up with another counter-punch that wobbles Johnson. Both make use of freer hands as the first round comes to an end. 

Round two begins and Johnson throws some stronger strikes that really fail to hit the mark. Silva continues to press him up against the cage, throwing counters to each and every one of Johnson’s flurries. Silva shoots for the double but Johnson defends it well, staying up against the cage.

Official time out called after Silva connects with a kick below the belt. 

The fight resumes and Silva continues to enjoy accurate counter-punching, Johnson defends another takedown attempt but continues to be pressed up against the cage. Another official time out called after an unintentional clash of heads. 

The fight resumes and yet another official time out is called after Silva connects with another kick below the belt. Silva gets a stern warning but no further action. Silva throws a kick as the fight resumes but Johnson catches it, fails to make use of the advantage as the round ends. 

Round three begins with both Silva and Johnson throwing kicks that get caught and defended. Silva has Johnson against the cage once more. Silva connects with a solid combination and continues to have Johnson pinned against the cage. Every time the action gets started the pair start tussling back to the cage. 

Johnson gets some good knees off in the clinch and continues to make use of the hold to get some shorter offense in, Silva continues to search with combinations upstairs. Johnson starts to up the tempo with a combination of elbows, knees, and hooks. Silva looks as though he is fading but gets some good counter-punches off as the horn sounds for the end of the fight. 

Charles Johnson def. Bruno Silva via Split Decision (28-29; 29-28; 30-27)

Ion Cutelaba vs. Oumar Sy – Light Heavyweight Three Rounds

Round one begins and Oumar Sy throws some kicks to establish the range between them. Ion Cutelaba follows up with two left shots followed by a left with his leading leg, continuing to lead and then hook in with his right. Sy and Cutelaba clinch against the cage. 

Cutelaba gets the trip-takedown on Sy, Sy turns it around, gets to his feet and looks for the takedown control himself. He gets it but Cutelaba swings the momentum on the ground. Sy sought for the leg hook but Cutelaba fought out of it, and as Sy pushes forward Cutelaba cinches in a guillotine. 

Sy taps out almost immediately. 

Ion Cutelaba def. Oumar Sy via Submission in Round One 

AEW Collision Results 3/14 – Andrade El Idolo Vs. Mascara Dorada, Kross Vs. Shirakawa

Backstage, Shafir said she asked Toni for advice a year ago and Toni told her to stay in her lane, do what she does, and don’t change a thing. Shafir said it was good advice, but Storm can’t take her own advice. She said Storm is diving into dangerous, relentless territory and she doesn’t care who or what Storm has become. Shafir said she’s 1-of-1 one and fears no one and violates everyone. After their match, “your lovers, butlers, and fans won’t recognize you and your mother will not be able to identify you. But hey, thanks for the advice.”

The Demand comes to the ring.