We are firmly on the road to Wrestlemania 42 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Amid the wait, WWE has announced some major shakeups in the creative departments of RAW and Smackdown.
Brian “Road Dogg” James Leaves WWE Creative Co-Lead Role on Smackdown
GettyUS businessman and former pro wrestler Paul Levesque (R), aka Triple H, and his wife busisnesswoman and former pro wrestler Stephanie McMahon look on prior US President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on September 30, 2025. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Cain Knight of Cageside Seats shared details on the departure of James from WWE.
“According to PW Insider and BodySlam.net, Brian “Road Dogg” James is gone from WWE as of today. He has been a member of the creative team since mid 2022, in a move that was seen by some people as Triple H getting the band back together.
Dogg was reportedly the co-lead writer on SmackDown going back to early 2025. Not surprisingly, many wrestling fans have pointed the finger at him for being part of the problem and not the solution to WWE’s creative struggles during this time. That sentiment only got stronger after seeing his segments in the writer’s room on the WWE Unreal docuseries.”
PW Insider also adds that “the word making the rounds is that he made the decision to leave his position on the company’s creative team.” A self-made departure from WWE for James.
Monday Night Raw Has A New Creative Lead
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 21: CM Punk attends the Fanatics Fest NYC 2025 at Javits Center on June 21, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
Per Fightful, there is another major creative shakeup, this one being for the Monday Night show.
“A promotion in WWE has been announced. Alexandra Williams announced on her Linkedin that she has been promoted to Vice President and lead writer in the company.”
“I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Vice President/Lead Writer at WWE!”
Williams has been with the company for five years. She previously worked as a senior writer and producer for the company.
WWE, ESPN Have Growing Friction in New Relationship
Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 21: Triple H attends the Fanatics Fest NYC 2025 at Javits Center on June 21, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
The report comes from Blake “Axe” Avignon, a sports business insider. He shared his information with the public in a post on X.
“Sources: Inside @ESPN, there’s chatter that @WWE’s transition into the network’s ecosystem hasn’t been seamless. One person described it as a ‘DNA mismatch’, adding that WWE leadership has yet to make a unified push to correct the shortcomings.
That unease, according to another source, extends beyond distribution. Early #WrestleMania42 ticket movement hasn’t inspired confidence, they said, viewing it as a sign the current strategy may not be landing as intended. ESPN and WWE also announced that the first hour of WrestleMania 42 will air live on ESPN’s linear channels before shifting to #ESPNUnlimited, a move designed to broaden exposure but one that also underscores the evolving nature of the new distribution model.
Separately, @TKOGrp’s reported restriction on nearby venue watch-party broadcasts was characterized by one source as a self-inflicted deterrent. The source argued the policy undercuts the very FOMO effect live events thrive on. If price-sensitive fans opted to watch Night 1 locally and the show delivered, the thinking goes, organic buzz and fear of missing out could have driven incremental ticket sales for Night 2. Instead, limiting nearby broadcasts may suppress that spillover demand. The same person also pointed to the rising cost of WWE fandom and what they described as Mark Shapiro’s growing disconnect from the everyday WWE consumer.”
TKO Executive Sees Brighter Days Ahead
WWE Announces Major Creative Shakeups Amid Wrestlemania 42 Countdown