Eric Bischoff thinks TNA could do a lot worse than Road Dogg, because he believes Brian James would bring exactly the kind of TV experience the company needs right now.
While speaking on his 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff weighed in on Road Dogg possibly becoming part of TNA’s creative team after Tommy Dreamer’s exit. He made it clear he thinks Road Dogg has the instincts, talent, relationships, and motivation skills to help the company.
“Road Dogg’s abilities, his skill, his instinct, his relationship with talent, his ability to motivate talent to do better—I 100% believe he has all these qualities.”
Bischoff then compared Road Dogg directly to Tommy Dreamer, and he did not exactly sugarcoat it. In his view, Road Dogg would be a major step up because Dreamer does not have the same kind of television creative experience.
“In a place like TNA Wrestling, I think he’d be a huge leap forward from Tommy Dreamer, who doesn’t really have any TV experience. And what experience he has is extremely limited and not really what I would consider television experience as far as creative.”
Bischoff said Dreamer’s wrestling background is obvious, but that is not the same thing as understanding television executives, network needs, and how to build creative around those demands.
“Wrestling? Yeah, fine. He was a former wrestler, learned enough about performing—he’s got that background. But has he ever sat in a room with television executives to understand their goals, needs, the way they have to operate, and tailor their creative to those needs? Probably not.”
That, according to Bischoff, is where Road Dogg would have the edge. He believes James has broader TV experience from working at a high level with established networks, and that could matter a lot for TNA.
“That’s the advantage that Road Dogg would have. He’s had a broader base of TV experience at a very high level with very well-established networks, and he’s going to be able to bring that experience.”
Bischoff also pointed to Road Dogg’s time as a performer during the Attitude Era, saying that experience would still be valuable if he ended up in TNA. For Bischoff, the real value is Road Dogg being able to combine both sides: television production knowledge and performer experience.
“If it were to end up in TNA, he’ll bring that experience, but he will also bring very valuable experience that he learned during the era where he became successful as a performer. And I think the ability to marry both of those skill sets together in those categories makes someone like Road Dogg extremely valuable to TNA.”
This comes after reports that Brian James had been talking with TNA officials following Dreamer’s exit as head of creative. Dave Meltzer noted that people knew James and TNA were talking, but not everyone knew what role he was being considered for.
“It was known that Brian James and TNA officials were talking, but nobody knew it was Dreamer’s position he was going to take, only that he would be added to the team.”
Meltzer also reported that one WWE source had a positive view of what Road Dogg could bring to TNA, calling him a fundamentals-first booker who works well with talent.
“One person in WWE noted to me that James was a ‘very fundamentals style booker, which would do that product a lot of good. He’s enthusiastic when he deals with talent, which is also a positive.’”
Bottom line, TNA’s creative situation is still shifting after Dreamer’s exit, with Delirious expected to take a lead role and Road Dogg’s name still floating around. But if Bischoff is right, bringing in Road Dogg would not just be another backstage hire — it could be the kind of move that gives TNA more polish, more structure, and someone who actually understands how wrestling has to work on television.
What do you think about Eric Bischoff saying Road Dogg would be a huge leap forward for TNA? Drop your thoughts below and let us know.
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