Road Dogg Jesse James.

[123NewChamp]

Hello Everyone,

I was on youtube, watching some wrestling matches yesterday, and I came up on one of my favorite WWF Superstars of all time. The Road Dogg Jesse James. In my Opinion, Road Dogg was actually a great wrestler. One of the most underrated Superstars of all time, but he was a great wrestler. He carried every tag team he's ever been in. (No disrepect to K-Kwik BKA R-Truth, and Billy Gunn.) He was a great charasmatic superstar. Great innovator on the mic. He could Sing, Dance, and Rap. He had some of the most charasmatic moves of all time. The Shake Rattle and Roll and the Shaky Shaky Knee Drop. Yeah he gotten plenty of pushes outside the tag division. He was a former intercontinental champion, and a former multi-time hardcore champion. Behind Stone Cold and The Rock, Road Dogg helped usher in the attitude era, and brought the attitude with the "Oh You Didn't Know" and you all know the rest. Let's face it, Mr. Kennedy or Anderson is a Road Dogg Jesse James Wanna Be. So my questions are:

What are your feelings of The Road Dogg Jesse James?
Did he get the push he deserved during his stay in the WWF?
What more could WWF done with Road Dogg?

 

[shitsngiggles]

He was a great character, I just think he was too much of a gimmick guy to get the full push he probably deserved. Wasn't he also perhaps a little too small to be the top dogg during his time? I haven't seen a match of his for years but I remember him being small looking.

 

[JPSYN]

One of the best ever on the Mic. when the new ageed outlaws joined DX it kept them going for a longtime after HBK left. I think without them DX would not have survived for so long. Loved Road dogg on the Mic. And he had an aggresiveness that as great especially in the match with cactus jack and terry funk.

 

[ECW Dan Selby]

I actually still feel Road Dogg and Billy Gunn would be a terrific addition now to help put over some of the other talent.

For the guys who remember them, The New Age Outlaws would be a real treat, and be the perfect way to educate the newer tag teams on how to draw heat/crowd creation, and how to work a great tag team match. And for those that won't have ever seen the Outlaws before, I think they'll enjoy the characters, anyway.

Can you imagine a long-running feud with a babyface team? Perfect way to establish them.

Also, I have to say, I fail to see the Anderson/Dogg resemblence.

Selby

PS - Apparently, my ECWds account was deleted because I had duplicate accounts. I'd completely forgot I had this one to be totally honest, but apologies if it put anyone out.

 

[BASSER911414]

The new age outlaws were one of my favourite tag teams of all time

but seriously dont u think ur pushing it with the behind stone cold and rock road dogg ushered in the attitude era.

He was good, I'll give him that but not that good. The Oh you didnt know were fun but really thats pretty much the only thing of his the crowd got pumped up for. his speech at the beginning and the theme music. Thats about it. His matches were awesome. But not the best. Yes he was part of one of the greatest tag teams of all time but the great thing about the new age outlaws were that it never seemed as if one was carrying the other. Thats the way they worked. Billy Gunn and Road Dogg were a team unit which is very rare in a tag team.

My feelings with Road Dogg are as following:

I loved the new age outlaws. I loved Dogg and I loved Gunn. And I loved them both equally. I still feel that they could be awesome if they were to be resigned despite their ages.

Yes he got the push he deserved. He was a 5 time tag team champion and a credible one at that. When u look at guys like Road Dogg, Bad Ass, Bradshaw, Simmons, the Hardyz, the Dudleyz, E and C, the Road Warriors etc. u say these guys were the true champions. Not the crap we have today.

As you said Road Dogg was extremely popular in the Attitude Era. He wasnt the best but I'd count both him and Gunn in the top 10. Not for ushering in but being entertaining during that time. I sincerely think Road Dogg did everything he could have. His run with K-Kwik aka Ron Killings aka R Truth was OK. Nothing special. I also think Road Dogg couldnt have left the WWE/F at a better time before his career would have gotten tarnished by the shit creative would have had him do sooner or later like they do with guys who work best in tag teams.

Road Dogg had an awesome career in the WWE and he will forever be known for it. When he gets inducted in the hall of fame he'll get inducted as a member of the New Age Outlaws and i'm sure he himself wouldnt have it any other way

 

[Workrate]

I always thought Billy Gunn was the better of the two and by a pretty good margin. Road Dogg was better on the mic, but he always looked chubby and out of shape; maybe his ring attire was just unflattering or something. Gunn was definitely far more athletic.

 

[ironsheik84]

I never thought of him as as a great wrestler, but he was certainly a great entertainer. One of the funniest moments I can remember in the WWF/E period was him fake thrusting into Billy Gunn's rear during a match for the hardcore title. Childish yes, but I'll be damned if that didn't make me laugh.

I actually started doing an announcer voice trying to imitate him which has really made speeches/presentations at work/school a lot more enjoyable and a hell of an ice breaker.

 

[123NewChamp]

The new age outlaws were one of my favourite tag teams of all time

but seriously dont u think ur pushing it with the behind stone cold and rock road dogg ushered in the attitude era.

He was good, I'll give him that but not that good. The Oh you didnt know were fun but really thats pretty much the only thing of his the crowd got pumped up for. his speech at the beginning and the theme music. Thats about it. His matches were awesome. But not the best. Yes he was part of one of the greatest tag teams of all time but the great thing about the new age outlaws were that it never seemed as if one was carrying the other. Thats the way they worked. Billy Gunn and Road Dogg were a team unit which is very rare in a tag team.

My feelings with Road Dogg are as following:

I loved the new age outlaws. I loved Dogg and I loved Gunn. And I loved them both equally. I still feel that they could be awesome if they were to be resigned despite their ages.

Yes he got the push he deserved. He was a 5 time tag team champion and a credible one at that. When u look at guys like Road Dogg, Bad Ass, Bradshaw, Simmons, the Hardyz, the Dudleyz, E and C, the Road Warriors etc. u say these guys were the true champions. Not the crap we have today.

As you said Road Dogg was extremely popular in the Attitude Era. He wasnt the best but I'd count both him and Gunn in the top 10. Not for ushering in but being entertaining during that time. I sincerely think Road Dogg did everything he could have. His run with K-Kwik aka Ron Killings aka R Truth was OK. Nothing special. I also think Road Dogg couldnt have left the WWE/F at a better time before his career would have gotten tarnished by the shit creative would have had him do sooner or later like they do with guys who work best in tag teams.

Road Dogg had an awesome career in the WWE and he will forever be known for it. When he gets inducted in the hall of fame he'll get inducted as a member of the New Age Outlaws and i'm sure he himself wouldnt have it any other way

I understand what you saying. "But I don't think I am it pushing when I mentioned behind Stone Cold and The Rock Road Dogg ushered in the attitude era." Wrestling wise Road Dogg wasn't the best wrestler during the attitude era. Cause in singles competition Road Dogg would get killed by Stone and the Rock. And there were other stars around that time like Triple-H, Kane, Mick Foley, Edge and Christian, The Hardyz, and etc. But the point I was trying to make is that when you go back to the years of the attitude era, it's really not that easy to forget the Road Dogg. Like one poster said before and I agree with him, that if it wasn't for the Outlaws, DX wouldn't of had as long of a run as they did. So from a charasmatic standpoint, ratings, crowd reactions, and most definately the tag division. He definately stood out during his time in WWF.

 

[S.J. Maximus]

Thank you 123NewChamp, if you didn't make this thread I would've any day now. Road Dogg in my opinion is the single most underrated star of all-time. People respect the N.A.O. as if it was lead by Billy Gunn and Road Dogg was just the comic relief but in reality Billy Gunn did nothing but get the pinfall while Road Dogg got the pop and the reactions from the crowd during the match. Like you said, his moves were of the most charismatic of the period, up there with the People's Elbow, The Stone Cold Stunner, and The Worm. Look at the Royal Rumble 2000 when he hung onto the bottom rope the WHOLE match I thought it was hysterical, he was always an innovator, always charismatic. Although I think he did face Rocky for the title in 1999 (just like X-Pac did) I think he should've had a serious run in the main event either as a heel or a face (but preferably a face). Not necessarily winning the title, but to be where Benoit and Jericho were on the card instead of winning meaningless Hardcore Championships while "Blandass" Billy Gunn feuded for the IC title in 2000.

 

[harrythem]

I don't think WWE could've done anything more with Road-Dogg as, like he himself has said, he was born to be a tag team wrestler.

I'll always remember RD for turning that dreadful "Real Double J" gimmick into the NAO gimmick and having that classic series with Foley & Funk...shame that nothing they did afterwards could really match up to it, mainly because there wasn't any real tag teams for them to fight against during their run as the top team (they ended up fighting Hardcore Holly & Bart Gunn at KOTR 98 for gods sake).

He had reached his peak and, although he left under a drug fuelled cloud, he managed to leave with good memories of him, rather then the "please piss off" stuff that'd have followed if he'd stayed around as long as X-Pac

 

[Lowdown]

Road Dogg was integral to the Attitude Era but never a central figure. He was a great midcard/tag team specialist but that was about it really. There's no denying that he had charisma and talent. However, McMahon usually has his favorite workers to be the top tier guys, and I know the Road Dogg wasn't one of them. Didn't also have issues with the wellness policy?

 

[snowblind56]

New Age Outlaws were one of the greatest tag teams ever, and yes Road Dog was stellar on the mic. He was and still the wrestler that I probably hate the most. Which, I guess that means he did a great job with his character. To this day, when I'm in bad mood, I turn on WWF No Mercy for N64 and give the Road Dog the ass-beating of a lifetime.

That being said and don't flame me for saying this, but I think he had one of the worst move sets ever for a wrestler. Almost as bad as Hogans. He made John Cena look like a man of 1000 holds. There are threads on here about the best and worst finishing moves, and his Pump Handle Slam, in my opinion is up there with some of the lamest.

 

[BASSER911414]

Road Dogg was integral to the Attitude Era but never a central figure. He was a great midcard/tag team specialist but that was about it really. There's no denying that he had charisma and talent. However, McMahon usually has his favorite workers to be the top tier guys, and I know the Road Dogg wasn't one of them. Didn't also have issues with the wellness policy?

There was no wellness policy during the attitude era dumbass. and comments like 'he wasnt Vince's favorites so he wasnt a top guy' or 'hes not on the top because he violated wellness policy' really tick me off.

Road Dogg was a tag team wrestler. He was never a single eventer and barely had entertaining single feuds. He was an extraordinary tag team wrestler especially with Billy Gunn and he had an awesome career in the WWE. That. Is. It. He will one day go into the HOF along with Billy Gun as a proud member of DX and one half of the new age outlaws. Lets leave it at that.

Oh and do u know who the top tier guys aka Vince's favorites were.... Stone Cold, The Rock and HHH. Do u know y they were Vince's favorites and the top tier guys. Because they proved day after day, night after night and show after show why they deserved to be on the top. and Hell if they werent Vince's favorites by the end of it I sure as hell dont know who could be.

 

[Azane]

Road Dogg was a really crap singles wrestler, he got over from being a good Tagger, as well as being in a phenomenon stable that could of put X-pac over.... wait it did!
The New Age Outlaws were lucky to be poster childs for the attitude movement, and I don't think Brian James would of really went anywhere in another era.

I do give him credit for cleaning himself up though, he went through rehab, and actually started to look good in TNA, until they pretended he didn't exist mid-storyline and canned him.

 

[Mr. HD]

I don't think WWE could've done anything more with Road-Dogg as, like he himself has said, he was born to be a tag team wrestler.

I'll always remember RD for turning that dreadful "Real Double J" gimmick into the NAO gimmick and having that classic series with Foley & Funk...shame that nothing they did afterwards could really match up to it, mainly because there wasn't any real tag teams for them to fight against during their run as the top team (they ended up fighting Hardcore Holly & Bart Gunn at KOTR 98 for gods sake).

He had reached his peak and, although he left under a drug fuelled cloud, he managed to leave with good memories of him, rather then the "please piss off" stuff that'd have followed if he'd stayed around as long as X-Pac

What about The Legion of Doom? I thought that little feud they had with them towards the end of '98 put them over quite nicely.

 

[poppycock]

New Age Outlaws make my list of favourite WWE Tag Teams of all time and The Road Dogg was excellent and one of my favourite WWE superstars in recent history. I loved him in The Outlaws and enjoyed his hardcore matches afterwards. I really enjoyed it when he took over the mic work during a hardcore match between Big Boss Man and Al Snow... this leaves me wondering if he would be a good addition to todays WWE commentary team.

He was great on the mic and not bad in the ring...definitely had more going for him than Billy Gunn who I also happend to like before and during his New Age Outlaws days.

I would love to see The New Age Outlaws back in the WWE for one last run but for many reasons I don't see this happening. The Tag Team division right now is in progress so a few old established teams to come in and put some younger guys over whilst keeping the division going by bulking it out until these younger teams become more developed can only be a positive.

 

[d3thRoW]

Loved the NAO, that entrance/intro is one of my favorites ever...Road Dogg was definitely talented and charismatic. Really was one of the most entertaining parts of dx post-hbk. His IC and hardcore title reigns are a testament to how over he was at the time, but I think that was pretty much the ceiling for him...if he had been able to get into some kind of shape it would have maybe helped. I wish he would have hung around longer, and maybe saved his partner from doing that awful billy and chuck nonsense. Wasn't bad in TNA but seemed like he just wanted to rely on the same old bag of tricks for way too long...I'm on board with a NAO return and think maybe it could be good but I doubt it's in the cards...after the shoots and apologies, who knows how they stand with HHH at this point. As for the HoF i would have to say yes just based on the fact that they already put koko b. ware in lol

 

[Chicago1989]

I remember back then in the Attitude Era, that Road Dogg was EXTREMELY over. He was one of the most over guys back then, along with Stone Cold and Mankind. Hell, he was more popular than Triple H in the D-X days.

Road Dogg was very entertaining, charismatic, and flamboyant. He stood out, whether as a tag team wrestler or as a singles wrestler. He's definitely one of those guys that I look back on when it comes to the good old days of the WWF. Hearing his theme song also really gives me a big nostalgic feeling too

Unfortunately, his wrestling career will always be remembered as the guy who took bumps for Rock and Austin back then, as well as for his work with "Mr. Ass" Billy Gunn, in the New Age Outlaws. He was underrated IMO and was always stuck in the midcard.

 

[The Brain]

Road Dogg was pretty good during the attitude era but I wouldn’t call him underrated at all. I think he was used perfectly. He had some talent but I never saw much in him as a singles wrestler. Some guys are just better suited for tag teams and Road Dogg was one of those guys. The New Age Outlaws is one of many examples where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. They were extremely over when they were together in 1998 but both struggled for success on their own. Road Dogg was in the right place at the right time. His charisma fit in perfectly with the attitude era. I don’t think he would have done as well in any other era. I think the timing was right when he left at the beginning of 2001. Had he stayed any longer I’m sure he would have become a reguarl on Heat and Velocity and gotten lost in the shuffle during the invasion. The WWF caught lightning in a bottle when they paired two struggling wrestlers together. The New Age Outlaws will be remembered as one of the all time great teams in the WWF and I think that is a good legacy for Road Dogg.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

I never thought of Road Dogg as a great wrestler, but he WAS a great entertainer. He and Billy Gunn worked so well together, they perfectly complimented each other, and Road Dogg's persona and crowd working techniques were perfect for the Attitude Era, which is why he got over as he did.

The New Age Outlaws are definitely one of the best teams I have ever watched as they were a proper TEAM. It didnt feel like one of those "thrown together" tag teams like we see so often today. Roadie and Ass Man were a fantastic duo.

However, I think Road Dogg got as far as he should have in WWE. While entertaining, he really didn't have hat great of a moveset, and didnt really have a stand out finishing move, I never understood why he didnt develop one. The Pumphandle Drop he did was pretty shitty.

I don't think he could have been a top level singles guy in the main event. He couldn't have hung in there with the likes of Triple H or The Rock in one on one matches, it was his charisma that got him to where he was, not his wrestling skill. To be a top guy, you nearly always need to have both- look at Austin, Rock, Triple H etc.

Road Dogg was a great tag-team wrestler, but not a great singles wrestler. But definitely one of the most entertaining guys on the mic that the WWE has ever had. They could do much worse than have someone like him come in and help the younger guys in FCW work on developing a persona and personality, and some promo skills. I have seen few guys work a crowd as well as Road Dogg.

Oh you didn't know? You're ass better calllllll someeboddyyyyyyyyy!

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

New Age Outlaws were one of the greatest tag teams ever, and yes Road Dog was stellar on the mic. He was and still the wrestler that I probably hate the most. Which, I guess that means he did a great job with his character. To this day, when I'm in bad mood, I turn on WWF No Mercy for N64 and give the Road Dog the ass-beating of a lifetime.

Road Dogg was one of the most popular wrestlers in the company. The fans loved him, and his merchandise was one of the biggest sellers for the WWE during the Attitude Era. How does you hating him show that he did a great job with his character? He was meant to be popular....

He DID do a good job, which is why nearly every fan sang his entrance theme, joined in with his catchphrases and loved the Outlaws.

That being said and don't flame me for saying this, but I think he had one of the worst move sets ever for a wrestler. Almost as bad as Hogans. He made John Cena look like a man of 1000 holds. There are threads on here about the best and worst finishing moves, and his Pump Handle Slam, in my opinion is up there with some of the lamest.

I do agree with you on this, I said something similar in my post. The Pumphandle Slam/Drop was a shocking finishing move, plus Dogg hardly ever did it. I can barely remember him ever winning a match with it. He was a small guy, too small to be a power wrestler, to slow to be a high flyer. Again, as I said in my post, he had a very limited move set and it was his mic skills that made him a star. As an actual wrestler he was pretty poor and relied on his comedy moves more than anything. That is a big reason why he never made it properly as a singles guy (bar a short IC title reign or 2, and it was his charisma that got him that).