WWE producer and sometimes wrestler Brian "Road Dogg" James yesterday became the first company employee to engage with fans on the issues raised by CM Punk's interview with Colt Cabana Wednesday. James responded to and interacted with several fans on Twitter, and impressively managed to have a dialogue with individuals who had already made up their minds and/or were looking to fan the flames without escalating tensions.
A common theme to his responses were that we're only getting one side of the story, and that's all we're likely to ever get:
@CMPunkXIII you only hear one side of the story!
— Brian G. James (@WWERoadDogg) November 27, 2014
@CMPunkXIII I understand that but are you sure you have all of the facts? There are always 2 sides to every story.
— Brian G. James (@WWERoadDogg) November 27, 2014
@CMPunkXIII just to be clear, I don't know the truth either! I just know how these stories get told around our industry.
— Brian G. James (@WWERoadDogg) November 27, 2014
@DeanyAmbroseWWE a business relationship is between 2 or more people, you've now heard 1 side of the story. You'll never hear the other
— Brian G. James (@WWERoadDogg) November 27, 2014
@DeanyAmbroseWWE that's his story. I can tell you some too if you'd like!
— Brian G. James (@WWERoadDogg) November 27, 2014
@TheBarrageEra so if VKM or HHH did a podcast would you believe every word of those too?
— Brian G. James (@WWERoadDogg) November 27, 2014
@TheBarrageEra well you never will. The way everyone is reacting, I don't believe it's in the WWE's best interest to give one.
— Brian G. James (@WWERoadDogg) November 27, 2014
@FedMark1186 I understand your complaint and you're definitely entitled to it. I don't want to bash Punk but there is another side.
— Brian G. James (@WWERoadDogg) November 27, 2014
James comes back to one of the two big claims that fans are gravitating to - that WWE fired Punk on his wedding day:
@TheBarrageEra as far as release papers on his wedding day, wasn't his wedding a secret? How did they know it was his wedding day?
— Brian G. James (@WWERoadDogg) November 27, 2014
And provides an interesting counter point to the other, even larger issue of Punk's medical treatment...why didn't he go to his own doctor sooner?
@wholeeoh0_0 @WWE can't even believe you just asked that! We have a trainer and a dr. Talent goes to doc of their choice! Dang.
— Brian G. James (@WWERoadDogg) November 27, 2014
But his biggest issues, as most would expect from a guy who's been in the business for decades and worked in a variety of roles for multiple companies, have to do with claims that Punk was mishandled in booking:
@TheBarrageEra did you just read what you typed? He didn't get to be in the main event so he got hot!!! C'mon man! I like Punk but dang.
— Brian G. James (@WWERoadDogg) November 27, 2014
@wholeeoh0_0 @WWE don't be sorry, just try to be realistic. We are an entertainment company. Good guys and bad guys, it's all perspective!
— Brian G. James (@WWERoadDogg) November 27, 2014
@TheBarrageEra if he has no hard feelings why all the negative talk. He was "The Man" and that guy runs hard all year long. I'm done!
— Brian G. James (@WWERoadDogg) November 27, 2014
One area where the D-O-double G has a particular overlap with Punk is that both have been former WWE contractors who made public some of their grievances with Vince McMahon's company (B.G. did a couple of shoot interviews and videos while working for TNA in the late aughts and earlier this decade). James acknowledges that and wonders if some of what is drove him to do that is also driving the Straight-Edge Superstar. He doesn't go as far as Ryback to call the Chicagoan insecure, but...
@TheBarrageEra when I quit and then got release papers, I dogged the company too. It's what you do when you aren't honest with yourself.
— Brian G. James (@WWERoadDogg) November 27, 2014
@FedMark1186 @CMPunk I did exactly what Punk did. I parted ways from the company and I bashed them . Call me what you will mate.
— Brian G. James (@WWERoadDogg) November 27, 2014
@FedMark1186 and if you call being friends with someone being "up their a**" then I guess you're right. Not bashin Punk ,just counter points
— Brian G. James (@WWERoadDogg) November 27, 2014
In the end, he just doesn't think that what happened in Punk's case is all that different from what happens to others...for better or for worse, I guess.
@ArmyShitbag don't believe that for a minute dude, that's what Pro wrestling is. You find a talent that fans love and exploit that.
— Brian G. James (@WWERoadDogg) November 27, 2014
It doesn't change anything, and Road Dogg isn't speaking here as an official representative of WWE - but it does add another perspective to the hottest topic in pro wrestling. Even if a bunch of people were speaking out, James' perspective would be interesting because of his position with WWE and his past and present relationship with Triple H.
Thoughts on what he said, or how he handled the situation, Cagesiders?