5 Questions With... Old Dogg

This week we sat down with the former Road Dogg who joined the E-Wrestling Alliance one year ago. We get his insight on why he's doing one last run, what happened between him and Jericho and just where Jesse James Armstrong plans to be in one year from now.

1. You joined the EWA in May of 2023 looking to make one last run at the industry you grew up in. One year later, do you feel as though you've met that goal or is there more left to do?

That's tough because I'm the type of guy who never feels like he's done, ya know? With this last run I've accomplished a lot. Yet in a lot of ways I feel like I've done nothing. I came into EWA with no real outline of what I wanted to do, I just knew I needed to do the damn thang, ya know? So that's what I did. I ended up becoming EWA World Tag Team Champion, albeit briefly, so I mean, that's something that was never even on my radar. Still, I feel like we've just scratched the surface of what the Old Dogg can still do.

2. Jesse James Armstrong. The Roadie. Road Dogg. BG James. You've had many names throughout your career, why the change to Old Dogg when joining the E-Wrestling Alliance?

I mean, that's simple. I feel like you gotta be honest with yourself and with the fans. If they hear Road Dogg or Jesse James or whatever, I think they have a mental picture of something that I'm not anymore. I'm older, a little heavier, got a little less hair on the head and a little more hair in other places. I'm an Old Dogg now. So I felt like I was being more honest with the people and more honest with the man in the mirror by calling myself that. I'll always be Jesse James Armstrong, that's my god-given name, but I can't be the Road Dogg anymore, but I can be the O-L-D, D-O-Double-G, and he still packs a bite!

3. Let's talk about the "800-pound gorilla" in the room. What is your relationship with Chris Jericho?

Hey Jericho is big, but 800 pound gorilla might be a bit too much even for him! Haha. But seriously, man that's tough. We were just kinda two ships passin' in the night when I got started back here in the EWA. I had no intention of being his pal, but you know, he was in a low place, Dominik Mysterio was runnin' circles around him, he'd had a falling out with Soul Train Jones and I guess we bonded over mutual misunderstanding of today's generation. A couple of grumpy old veterans, but you know, Chris would never admit that.

I helped him out with little things that he'd always had his flunky types do for him, book hotels, flights, things of that nature. But I never saw myself in that role. I'm way too old to be a "Roadie" again, ya know? I thought we were friends, partners, equals, but I guess he just saw me as some stooge and when I got too big for him, off to the curb I went. We could have been something bigger I think, but wasn't meant to be. Oil and water don't mix.

4. What has been your favorite moment in the EWA in the past year since your return?

No brainer. Winning the EWA Tag Titles. Didn't expect it, didn't last long, everything went to crap shortly after, but for 29 days I sat atop the world, something I hadn't done in more than a decade since me and Billy were EWA Tag champs!

5. Where will Old Dogg be in one year from today?

I figure they'll either have me finally in the retirement home eatin' Jello outta tin can or I'll be bustin' heads with the best of them here in the EWA. I still have a lot I want to do. I'd love to get a singles title. I'm lookin' at Dallas Page. Not only as inspiration as another golden oldie who keeps goin', but as a guy I think I might could just beat for the EWA Television Championship. Things like that keep me wanting to grind. So yeah. I hope if you chat with me this time next year, it'll be all about the titles I done won and then some!