Brian James claims AEW rejected him over political beliefs

Former WWE writer and Hall of Famer Brian “Road Dogg” James has claimed that he was turned away from a job opportunity with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) due to his “political/core beliefs.”

James made the allegations during a social media exchange that began with a debate over the AEW Tag Team Championships and the status of wrestlers Austin and Colten Gunn. During the discussion, James suggested that his conservative views were a factor in the decision, noting that while he did not vote for or donate to Donald Trump, AEW President Tony Khan’s father, Shahid Khan, has done so.

James also initially alleged that wrestling journalist David Bixenspan contributed to the cancellation of the opportunity by sharing screenshots of his social media posts, though he later clarified his comments after Bixenspan denied involvement.

Following his departure from WWE earlier in 2026, where he served as co-lead writer for SmackDown, James has remained active on social media. Some fans and commentators have disputed his claims, citing other AEW performers with varying political views or questioning his professional booking record as the potential reason for not being hired.