Road Dogg: WWE Looked At AEW Like, ‘That’s This Other Little Money Mark’s Company’
Road Dogg weighs in on how WWE viewed AEW.
When AEW was announced in 2019, Triple H famously said during the D-Generation X Hall of Fame induction speech that WWE would buy “that pissant company” just to fire Billy Gunn again. AEW has established itself as the most competitive number two wrestling company since the days of WCW, though Road Dogg believes WWE never felt like they were at war with AEW.
“No, we didn’t, and we probably should have,” Dogg told Busted Open when asked if WWE felt like they were in a battle with AEW. “Instead, I think it was looked at like, ‘Oh that’s this other little money mark’s company.’ I honestly think that’s how it was looked at. I would argue that, however long we are into their tenure, that was wrong to be looking at it that way. They’re still here, they’re still strong, they’re getting stronger. Adding Mike Masury was a huge step in the right direction. He’s a smart guy with good instincts.”
Dogg worked behind the scene with WWE from 2014 to March 2025, leaving his position as co-lead writer of SmackDown.
Elsewhere during the interview, Dogg explained how AEW changed WWE’s philosophy on booking. You can find his full comments here.
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