I was a former marine sacked by WWE for drug and alcohol abuse - now the future of Smackdown is in my hands

Brian James, better known to fans as Road Dogg, will not be forgotten by the WWE faithful in a hurry.

James was a big hitter in the golden age of grappling during the 90s Attitude Era, starting his wrestling career in the 1980s in between tours of duty with the United States Marine Corps. He mixed it in the ring with all-time greats like Stone Cold Steve Austin and the Rock as one half of legendary tag team, The New Age Outlaws. Joined by Billy Gunn, the Dogg was a decorated multi-title winner and was a WrestleMania regular. And he was so popular he earned a spot in the iconic WWE faction, D-Generation X.

Things were only looking up, but there were things brewing beneath the surface that many fans were left unaware off. Despite his success in the ring, outside the ring he suffered from extensive drug and alcohol abuses. It all came to a head in January 2001, where James was fired by WWE.

"It was me being mad because my gravy train ended," James said on his 'Oh...You Didn't Know' podcast in 2022. "They took my gravy train away because I was behaving in ways that were unbecoming of a WWF superstar. Now, I can see that and say that. At the time, I was still looking through drug-addled eyes, and not making sound decisions."

He ended up performing on the independent scene and for other wrestling outlets for a decade during his WWE exile. In 2011, when James completed all his steps toward sobriety, he made it a point to call Jim Ross, WWE's former Head of Talent Relations, who dismissed him.

"JR was the first person I called after I got sober," James revealed. "He was the first amends I made. Even while firing me, he put me over by acknowledging that I was talented. And they [WWE] did make me a star. They did everything right,