THOUGHTS | THE IMPACT OF RON "R-TRUTH" KILLINGS

WWE

Pro wrestling may be scripted, but like most sports, there are real factors that can rocket a performer to stardom—or send them packing.

No one beats Father Time.

Take LeBron James, for example. He’s widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history. And why not? He was a high school phenom, the undisputed top pick before he was even old enough to drive, and he's had an all-star career that might just last longer than his own son’s. But even LeBron isn’t immune to the slow grind of age and mileage. Sooner or later, wear and tear catches up.

That’s why LeBron’s been protected for most of his career. He’s had the power to handpick coaches, recruit teammates, and just as easily send them packing if things didn’t click. Rising stars, established legends, even championship-winning coaches—no one’s been completely safe from his influence.

And let’s be real: fans might love him or hate him, but LeBron is always at the center of the basketball conversation. Whether it’s debates about Michael Jordan, criticism over his front-office influence, or speculation about how his decisions impact Bronny’s career, LeBron is basketball’s ultimate buzzword—unless, of course, we’re talking about the NBA Finals.

Now contrast that with R-Truth. Despite being a fan favorite and a respected veteran, he’s a 53-year-old comedy act in a world that rarely rewards longevity without reinvention. Sure, fans love him—but in the WWE, he’s mostly there to take a pin or eat a finisher to make someone else look strong.

So when WWE decided not to renew his contract, it shouldn’t have been a shock—especially if it was part of a larger round of cuts. Truth has always been slotted as a lower midcard talent. In the last ten years, he’s gone 2-10 on premium live events. Even worse, he missed the 2017, 2022, 2023, and (as of now) 2025 editions entirely.

In the end, the spotlight doesn’t shine forever—whether you’re the king of the court or the life of the locker room.

Or is it?

Because less than a month after his supposed release, R-Truth shocked the world by spearing John Cena and smashing him with a championship belt—helping Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes win the main event at Money in the Bank. When he finally revealed his face, the crowd exploded. This wasn’t just a typical comedy pop; this was real—an outpouring of love and respect. You could see it in his eyes. Truth was visibly emotional, soaking in the kind of appreciation he rarely gets when playing the lovable goof.

And just like that, a new conversation erupted: Did WWE work the fans?

Reports said Truth was released. R-Truth and even his son denied that this was part of a storyline. But if that’s true, what are we even arguing about? This isn’t the first time the lines between real and scripted have blurred.

Remember Byte This? That old WWE online talk show? One night, Lita was a guest when a surprise caller—Matt Hardy—jumped on the line to publicly confront her. The segment quickly turned uncomfortable. At the time, Matt had just discovered that Lita and Edge were seeing each other behind his back. And since Edge was the bigger star, Matt got fired. What followed was a digital outcry—Matt took to the internet to share his truth, and the groundswell of support helped bring him back. That Byte This call was the spark.

Then there’s Drake Maverick. WWE released him before his final match—but instead of disappearing, he posted a heartfelt video online. It resonated so deeply with fans that the company re-signed him before the dust even settled.

So yeah, maybe R-Truth was cut. Maybe he wasn’t. Maybe WWE planned the whole thing, or maybe they just rode the wave of real emotion. But that’s the magic of wrestling at its best—you don’t always know what’s real, but when the crowd roars like that, you feel it.