There was a rumor going around this week that SmackDown’s head writer had been replaced by Road Dogg (Brian James). That rumor is apparently not true, according to the Wrestling Observer.
The actual story is that nothing has really changed. SmackDown’s head writer since the brand split, Ryan Ward, is still the head writer and Road Dogg has not “replaced him.” However, Road Dogg did recently get a “corporate promotion” that is something similar to “head consultant,” which technically puts him “above” Ward. However, Road Dogg and Ryan Ward have essentially been co-head writers of SmackDown since the brand split.
Road Dogg (I like calling him that instead of his real name) and Ward pitch the weekly show to Vince McMahon, who then “rewrites it as he sees fit.”
Road Dogg is also very close with Triple H and is rumored to likely play an even bigger role in the company in the future when Triple H eventually takes over from Vince McMahon.
The non-change is good news, since the writing shakeup rumor worried a lot of people since SmackDown has easily been the better show since the brand split.