WWE legend says Triple H and Vince McMahon were split on whether to rehire him

Triple H and Vince McMahon have been WWE's top creative figureheads in recent years. Road Dogg, real name Brian James, recently recalled how only one of the higher-ups wanted him to return to the company.

Road Dogg cemented his status as a WWE legend during his days as an in-ring competitor in the 1990s and 2000s. After battling alcoholism, the 54-year-old was rehired by WWE in 2011 as a producer.

On his Oh You Didn't Know? podcast, Road Dogg said Triple H convinced McMahon to give him another chance:

"It was Hunter [Triple H] that brought me back, and it was against Vince's wishes, and I don't mind sharing that because, rightfully so, my track record says I'm a scr*w up, says I'm not to be trusted, says I'm not to be given the keys to the kingdom. I'm not to be given the keys to the car. I'm not to be given the keys to anything!"

Road Dogg had been sober for a year when Triple H asked him to return. The Hall of Famer went on to work in various behind-the-scenes positions, including the lead writer of SmackDown between 2016 and 2019. After briefly departing in 2022, he was rehired as WWE's Senior Vice President of Live Events.

---

Road Dogg is thankful that Triple H believed in him

In 1998, Shawn Michaels left D-Generation X after his WrestleMania 14 loss to Stone Cold Steve Austin. Chyna and Triple H formed a revamped version of the group, with the additions of Billy Gunn, Road Dogg, and X-Pac.

More than a decade on from his return as a producer, Road Dogg is grateful that WWE's Chief Content Officer recommended him to Vince McMahon:

"He [Vince McMahon] only knows what he knows, and that's who he knows I am. Hunter believed in me, you know what I mean? And believed that I had something to offer and put his neck out on the line. That's metaphorically speaking. He said, 'No, I want him,' and Vince said, 'Well, that's on you when it goes awry.' Knock on wood; it hasn't gone awry yet, and I'm still sober, and I still love wrestling."

In a separate podcast episode, Road Dogg gave his opinion on whether CM Punk damaged his reputation in AEW.

Do you have any favorite memories of watching Road Dogg in WWE? Let us know in the comments section below.

---

Please credit Oh You Didn't Know? and give a H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.