Road Dogg Makes BIZARRE Claim About Why AEW Wouldn't Hire Him (AEW News)
Road Dogg believes his "political/core beliefs" are why he was "turned away" by AEW.
Former WWE SmackDown head writer Brian 'Road Dogg' James believes that part of the reason he's not been hired by AEW is down to his "political/core beliefs".
This all started when Road Dogg suggested that the AEW Tag Team Titles and every other AEW tag team are beneath the Gunn Boys, and that Tony Khan has been sleeping on Austin and Colten Gunn.
Tag titles are beneath them at this point as is EVERY OTHER TEAM and I mean EVERY TEAM @AEW @TonyKhan I heard you didn’t sleep……
you’re sleeping on these boys#OUDK #SUCKIT#Nothing2lose https://t.co/m0ugvc3nJO— Brian G. James (@BrianRDJames) August 18, 2026
That initial X post triggered a response from the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, who questioned those people who'd "championed" for Brian James to join AEW, and called it a "fed brain issue" if somebody thinks any tag titles are "beneath" anyone.
Responding to a fan, Road Dogg then said that his "political/core beliefs" are the reason he's not in AEW already, pointing out that Tony Khan's father, Shahid, had donated to Donald Trump previously, but that James himself "didn't donate to or vote for Trump".
My bad Dave, I forgot, when it comes to wrestling, ONLY your opinion matters
5 star tweet sir! #GOTME #OUCH #SUCKIT https://t.co/d5AacxGGUX— Brian G. James (@BrianRDJames) August 19, 2026
Actually, I was turned away because of my political/ core beliefs
That happened IN AMERICA ??
I didn’t donate to or vote for Trump, BUT his old man did, why was I punished ?— Brian G. James (@BrianRDJames) August 19, 2026
So, whatever the reason, it certainly doesn't look like Brian James will be becoming #AllElite anytime soon.
In the meantime, those rumblings of the WWE Hall of Famer joining TNA and taking over the Head of Creative role from Tommy Dreamer have quieted in recent weeks. When Dreamer's TNA exit was announced in June, it was Road Dogg who was the immediate frontrunner to replace him, and he was in attendance for the Anthem outfit's Slammiversary PPV later that month, though it's largely been radio silence on that matter since then.
After long-time unhappiness in his role as SmackDown co-lead writer, Brian James quit WWE in March, bringing an end to a four-year run. He'd also previously been on the SmackDown writing team from 2016 to 2019, and served in various other roles throughout the years, from main roster producer to NXT trainer.