WWE Magazine: What was the most important thing on your mind at the time of this picture?
Road Dogg: The first thing on my mind was that I was young and hungry to succeed in this business. Most importantly, I wanted to be the best I could. I loved wrestling, and now I was getting an opportunity to do it every day.
WWE Magazine: How different is The Road Dogg now from the person in that photo?
Road Dogg: The Road Dogg was an extension of my real self, but it was just that — an extension. It wasn’t who I really am. When I was The Road Dogg, I got away from the self-discipline that the military and my upbringing taught me. I’ve come back to that.
WWE Magazine: The Road Dogg then vs. The Road Dogg now. And the winner is?
Road Dogg: Without a doubt, Brian James today. A lot of people still remember me as the crass Road Dogg, and they may think that dude was cool. The truth is, I didn’t realize or appreciate the fans, the fortune, or my status in the company. I only appreciate it now when I look back in retrospect, with a clear head, and see how big a role I played in The Attitude Era. I think, “Wow, I wish I could’ve been sober so I could’ve appreciated that.”