Brian ‘Road Dogg’ James is part of the creative team that oversees SmackDown, and he works with talent on Friday nights, including Damian Priest. He named the Archer of Infamy as the modern era’s closest thing to The Undertaker when asked by GAMINGbible to create his own version of DX using the current roster:

“I’d have to pick Rhea Ripley for sure, and Damian Priest. Damian reminds me a lot of a younger Undertaker. I might have to take Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford. The Street Profits, too. I could also have JD McDonagh; he could be my new X-Pac. Do you know what, I’ll take the entire Judgment Day group while I’m at it.”

Priest became one of WWE’s top babyfaces after breaking away from The Judgment Day last year, but he has since moved to SmackDown, where he has somewhat lost momentum. He was World Heavyweight Champion in the summer of 2024, but a year later, he failed even to make the SummerSlam matchcard.

The 42-year-old often earns comparisons to The Undertaker because of his look and gimmick, although it would be extremely difficult to ever rival the Deadman’s career or come close to gaining the same interest his mysterious character achieved. But Priest was shining in the main event scene, and his best moment came at WrestleMania 40 when he cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to become world champion.

Priest has recently been embroiled in a rivalry with Aleister Black, losing to his SmackDown rival two weeks ago. He spoke in July of now being a leader behind the scenes after rising to the top of the company, but his SummerSlam omission was said to have ‘surprised’ many of his peers, per Fightful Select.

Road Dogg Predicted Damian Priest Would Be World Champion

Road Dogg has long been a fan of Damian Priest, including when the former NXT star joined The Judgment Day and starred in the group as the powerhouse. The former DX member envisioned a world title would arrive when speaking back in February 2023 on his Oh You Didn’t Know podcast:

“Damian Priest, I think I’ve said it said it before, actually maybe on here, but he has come so far. Think about the people that Damian Priest is surrounded by — Finn Balor, Rhea, Dom — and he’s even in that group stepping out and shining, and so, big things [are coming], I predict he’ll be a Universal Champion one day. I do believe that, and I believe he could carry it.”

Priest held the World Heavyweight Championship for 118 days until Finn Balor cost him, and he dropped it to Gunther at SummerSlam in August 2024. He previously held the United States Championship before his time with The Judgment Day, but is struggling to return to the world title picture on SmackDown.