10 Times WWE Wrestlers Escaped Booking Hell
1. The New Age Outlaws
The time between the New Generation Era surpassing its expiry date and the Attitude Era beginning with a bang was a revolutionary reset. The benefits were widely advantageous, however, Brian James and Monty "Kip" Sopp gained even more than most.
When James debuted in WWE, he was Country musician Jeff Jarrett’s roadie. The Roadie and Jarrett’s run lasted mere months before the pair left the company. The Roadie, now Jesse James, returned as a star. He called himself "The Real Double J" and took credit as the voice behind the other ‘Double J’s’ music.
His future partner Sopp followed a similar path. After capturing the Tag Team Championships as a member of The Smoking Gunns, Billy Gunn became Rockabilly – the prodigy of The Honky Tonk Man. He found himself between the egos of James and Honky, ultimately siding with James and smashing a guitar over his mentor.
They teamed up as The New Age Outlaws – now going by ‘Road Dogg’ Jesse James and ‘Badd Ass’ Billy Gunn. In leaving their Country routes, they became exciting prospects. Their absorption into DX increased their popularity further. The Outlaws were the third-best merch sellers during the hugely profitable Attitude Era.