Jim Ross said he was surprised by Road Dogg’s departure from WWE, calling Brian James “invaluable” and comparing him to William Regal in terms of his behind-the-scenes contributions.
“He did a hell of a job for those guys. From what I’m told, everybody that worked with him said he’s invaluable,” Ross said on the latest Grilling JR. “And I can see that, and I can believe that.”
James, the son of the late Bullet Bob Armstrong, had been a member of WWE’s creative team for years. Reports indicate he resigned from the company in person after receiving a job review he disagreed with. Initial reports suggested he had been fired, but that was later clarified – James chose to leave on his own terms.
Ross speculated that the reported bad review may have been a case of corporate management clashing with the wrestling side of the business. “When the corporate side gets involved in managing a wrestling issue, sometimes you find that they’re not real compatible,” he said.
He compared James to another respected backstage figure. “He’s kind of like William Regal. You don’t hear a hell of a lot about him, but when you do hear something, it’s always good. He helped this guy. He helped that guy. Cleared this up, cleared that up,” Ross said.
James first gained fame as one half of the New Age Outlaws alongside Billy Gunn. The team was a central part of the Attitude Era and D-Generation X. After retiring from in-ring competition, James transitioned into a backstage role, working as a producer and eventually as a key member of WWE’s creative team. He also served as head of WWE’s developmental system during the early days of NXT.
Ross said James will have no trouble finding work. “I know one thing – he won’t have any trouble getting back in it, if that’s what he chooses to do,” he said.
Co-host Conrad Thompson noted that a New Age Outlaws reunion on the appearance circuit with Billy Gunn, who currently works for AEW as a coach and occasional on-screen talent, should be lucrative. Ross agreed. “They haven’t been out on the road together. It’s fresh. It’s new,” he said. “Remember, wrestling fans like things that are new and surprising. It’s surprising that he left, and we’ll find out what the new is.”
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