Update: Regarding rumors of Ryan Ward replacing “Road Dogg” Brian James as the head writer of WWE SmackDown, James actually received a corporate promotion over Ward, according to The Wrestling Observer. The official title may be head consultant but that’s not confirmed.
Ward and James are still sharing the job of pitching SmackDown creative to Vince McMahon, who then re-writes the scripts as he wants. James is also the one who reads the scripts to other producers at the production meetings and has been doing that for some time now.
While James got a promotion and is technically above Ward, Ward is still titled the lead writer for SmackDown. James and Ward have essentially been co-head writer of the show since it started receiving praise several months back.
The former DX member is said to be Triple H’s emissary on SmackDown and is to be one of the major backstage power brokers going forward, especially when Triple H takes over.
BG James has been the head producer on smackdown for time, hes pretty much the head honcho and vince is a huge fan of his work famously stating "he might have to take tuesdays off from now on"
As far as I know, Roaddogg has been apart of the Smackdown crew since the Brand Split. So hopefully the show keeps chugging along like it has, whether Ward is off the team or just works under Roaddogg now.
If they move Ward to Raw, as long as Roaddogg can keep the same stuff going for Smackdown, I'll be happy. I'm more of a Smackdown guy but I want to enjoy both shows.
There was never any confirmation that Ward was head writer after he returned from NXT. He become the head writer in '13 but then went to NXT in '14. For all we know Road Dogg and Ward are co-writing the show. Also Meltzer's source is Disco Inferno telling Vince Russo that "he heard" Road Dogg is the head writer of SD. First off we don't know if that's true and if it is we don't know how long he has been. For all I know he could have been this whole time.
You're all correct that Brian James has been involved with SmackDown but Ryan Ward was the head writer (Meltzer reported this quite a while back) and the news, or rumor, here is that Ryan Ward is no longer writing for SmackDown.
Is Ward going to Raw or something? The guy is too talented to be benched over foolishness. His storyline's are amongst the most entertaining and coherent work the company puts out these days.
While it remains just hearsay I certainly won't take the report as a certaintly, but if it's true, that's unfortunate. Whether Ward was head writer these past few months or not, him not being on the SD writing team at all will be a blow.
And if people think this means Raw will improve... Not likely - Whoever's in control of Raw seems to have a thing for ignoring the writers anyway, and just doing whatever the fuck they feel like doing that moment.
I'll bite Smackdown quality wise won't be affected by this. Smackdown was still pretty good before the split. Losing Ward wouldn't affect the show at all in fact it would help it.
Ryan Ward
- hasn't got any new tag team over long-term
- Still hasn't wrote the champion as the protagonist of the story
"Oh you mean someone/something I don't want to is getting popular!! Get the knife!! We've got some backs to stab!"
:vince3
Pity too, of course a change like this happens when SD is the only wrestling show I get to see for a while since I'm in IT class on Mondays and LU is on break.. standard timing..
Vince handles Smackdown's creative direction the same as he does Raw. It all comes back to him. Meltzer has mentioned this several times. It's crazy how fans literally make things up because of how they "feel".
I honestly dont get the hype for smackdown recently, but i am just commenting from having watched youtube clips and not the full shows(same for raw which i find pretty bland too), will give road dogg a chance for sure
SD is the best wrestling brand WWE has right now. I Think people saying oh its not that good. Pretty much because the majority are praising it. Trying to be cool huh? In any case. I don't think Road Dogg being head writer should change much. HHH is in creative control of SD anyway.
SD is the best wrestling brand WWE has right now. I Think people saying oh its not that good. Pretty much because the majority are praising it. Trying to be cool huh? In any case. I don't think Road Dogg being head writer should change much. HHH is in creative control of SD anyway.
No, it's just not that good. I know standards have dropped considerably in the past decade but don't insult my intelligence.
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