Isn�t it funny how you can look back on some of the more embarrassing moments in life and have a good laugh about them?

Road Dog and Billy Gunn know that quite well. Fans recognize the New Age Outlaws as the hottest tag team in the sport, but it was not that long ago that both superstars were considered �mid-carders� and �curtain-jerkers�. Forced into gimmicks that were perhaps destined for mediocrity, Road Dog and Billy survived their venture to become multiple tag team champions and members of DX. They�ve amassed so much success that they can afford to look back and joke about it.

Oh, you didn�t know about the �Real� Double J and Rockabilly?!

For Jesse James Armstrong, his persona came from World Wrestling Federation management, who wanted to discredit Jeff Jarrett after he packed his bags for WCW. His �Roadie� was faced with either following his friend south or staying in familiar territory, so Jesse chose to bid Jarrett adieu. Upset at the former Intercontinental Champion�s departure, Federation officials revealed the dark secret that Jeff left behind - he was never the voice behind With My Baby Tonight. It was the Roadie all along, and with cameras rolling during an interview in late 1996 James admitted the cover-up.

Upon his return to the ring, the �Real� Double J Jesse James was issued Garth Brooks-like attire and a microphone. Gone were the dreadlocks and bandannas, and before each match the Titan hierarchy asked him to sing With My Baby Tonight to back up their claims. The persona was meant to be a smack in the face of Jeff Jarrett, but outside of the spotlight of their respective organizations the two remained friends. The country singer image was never the �real� Jesse James, as the wild southern rebel inside him was aching to get out.

Billy Gunn also felt his fellow superstar�s pain, as his career went from a three-time Federation Tag Team Champion to the protege of the Honky Tonk Man. In the wake of a neck injury, Billy was sidelined for over a month. At the same time, Honky returned in search of someone to �walk in his blue suede shoes.� Upon Gunn�s return, he offered him a role - to which Billy outright slugged him. Ironically, it was Jesse who had turned down the former Intercontinental Champion�s offer a week prior! Still, the management promised he would have a protege to face the �Real� Double J in less than seven days at April�s �Revenge of the Taker�: In Your House.

In that timespan, Billy realized this was his only opportunity to �get somewhere� in the Federation. Although most considered it professional suicide to fall under the reigns of a manager whose Elvis persona went the way of the 80s, Gunn saw it as a stepping stone if he could grin and bear it. So, at the Pay-Per-View, �Rockabilly� was born and defeated his future tag team partner with the Shake, Rattle and Roll - the finisher Honky used during his glory days. In the weeks to follow, however, the superstar suffered losses to Goldust, Triple H, Ken Shamrock, and Vader after his manager�s interference backfired.

After months of busting their backs, it was by chance that Jesse and Rockabilly were paired for a tag team match on Shotgun Saturday Night. Their impressive teamwork and chemistry not only opened the eyes of dozens of Titan employees, but the two athletes as well. Behind the scenes, unbeknownst to each other, both went to Federation officials asking about the prospect of future teamings. Later, Jesse would confront Rockabilly on national television - asking him to leave Honky to form an alliance. Gunn�s response was loud and clear, as he smashed a guitar over his manager�s head. In the weeks that followed, both superstars shook the monkeys off their respective backs and adopted the name of the New Age Outlaws. It stuck. Road Dog grew back his dreads, while Billy�s ego inflated like a balloon. For two superstars once buried in opening matches, the Outlaws beat the Federation shovel to become the most entertaining team in the business.

The rest, as they say, is history!

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