Brian James, aka Road Dogg, explained why he left WWE on Busted Open Radio, saying he had stopped enjoying the work and stayed longer than he wanted out of financial anxiety.
“I wasn’t having any fun. It got to be so much work, that it stopped being fun,” James said. “I actually stayed longer than I wanted to just out of fear of unemployment. I didn’t do well with my money. I’m a drug addict and recovering alcoholic. I didn’t manage my money well. That fear of the unknown kept me for a long time.”
He credited his wife with helping him make the decision: “I was about to go into a meeting, and my wife told me on the phone, ‘I lived with you in a tent.’ I said, ‘I’m coming home right now.'”
James had been co-lead writer of SmackDown and held various backstage roles at WWE dating back to 2011. His departure was reported in March. He remains under contract through his WWE Legends deal.