MR. TITO: The Truth About R-Truth’s WWE Release
Right now, online wrestling fans are pouring their hearts out over the release of the sudden R-Truth, along with various WWE talents also displaying their sympathy. R-Truth, also known as Ron Killings (real name), posted the following upon his release on 6/1/25:
”Im sorry to inform you all. I just got released from WWE. I want to thank WWE for the ride, but MOSTLY I want to thank each and EVERYONE OF YOU who was along for the ride, Thank you for all the love, support, and appreciation you have given me over the years. Thank you”
Now, he’s just on the heels of working Saturday Night’s Main Event against John Cena and the big angle there is that his longtime hero, John Cena, betrayed him during their match. There is a CHANCE that we could be getting worked here, as R-Truth could be returning in some form of “shoot” angle to get back at Cena for getting him released OR R-Truth returns as a John Cena flunky and apologist.
Reason I suggest this as a possibility is because WWE already did their post-Wrestlemania “Spring Cleaning”, and R-Truth was spared from that situation.
Furthermore, I think many are tying Carlito’s announcement that he’s leaving after his contract is expiring with R-Truth’s possible situation. No, one was released from their contract effective immediately, while the other just won’t see a renewal when his deal is up (but he could still appear on WWE television). Big difference.
Carlito and R-Truth, and nobody else, had their WWE employment announced to be ending.
Notice how many WWE wrestlers are outpouring for R-Truth leaving the WWE, versus anyone mentioning Carlito’s predicament. Isn’t that interesting?
With R-Truth, we’re either getting worked or I predict the outpouring of support will bring back R-Truth to the WWE, much like Matt Hardy getting released from the WWE and then re-signing once the fan outcry was strong during the whole Lita/Edge affair debacle of the mid 2000s.
But here’s the real question, if this was truly a REAL WWE release… Why?
The second real question is WHY NOW?
Well, let’s look at the WWE historically…
Historically speaking, the WWE doesn’t often keep a wrestler beyond their expiration date and for any veterans on their roster, they aren’t overpaid. You could give me “what about Hogan”, and then I can refer to the WWE letting him go multiple times. Edge and Christian, for example, aren’t in the WWE for a reason. They had their good comeback tour, but after WWE squeezed a few great matches out of each, both men were allowed to look for work elsewhere. The FACT is that most releases of the 2020s haven’t panned out elsewhere, with multiple released wrestlers now coming back to the WWE fold.
You may certainly give me Cody Rhodes as an example, but the Cody that the WWE released was NOT the better talent they signed to return for 2022. That’s just a fact.
WWE operates like a well-run NFL football team. The average NFL player lasts 3.3 years in the league. That’s CRAZY, as it’s mostly a player joining the league from college with just 1 contract signed. For the ones who last beyond 3.3 years, they get a big contract after their rookie deal and then everything depends on production after that. The good teams know when to spot a decline in-progress and either trade or lowball that player on the next deal to prompt that trade. Well-run franchises will then trade said declining player and receive draft picks in return. Said declining player will have a handful of bad seasons while the well-run team is ready to rebuild for the future. The team with the declining player also has no draft capital because they traded it all away.
Actually, the more that I think about it, the NBA model really displays this idea… You’ve got a top superstar at their peak but obviously he’s in decline because they are going no where in the playoffs. Another competitive team calls and trades away 2-3 first round draft picks plus multiple players. There are so many NBA franchises who have NO draft picks for many years, while also being stuck with the GUARANTEED deals of aging NBA “superstars” that will take you no where in the NBA playoffs. Enjoying the NBA Playoffs? The Pacers and the Thunder are 2 teams who have RIPPED OFF other teams for years to rebuild their teams into powerhouses with organic growth of their teams through the draft and wise decision making.
Here locally, the Pittsburgh Steelers used to be MASTERS at offloading Wide Receivers and Running Backs just at their expiration dates and then the receiving team of that player would be baffled as to what happened. Well, you got played by a team who knows their players and refuses to overpay for a peaked or beginning-to-decline talent. The Kanas City Chiefs took a ton of heat for trading Tyreek Hill away to the Dolphins, but the Chiefs have been 2-1 in the past 3 Super Bowls since exporting Hill and now there are questions whether or not Hill remains with the Dolphins with the baggage he’s built up despite the, at times, great play.
Let’s spell out the truth for R-Truth… He’s a 53 year-old professional wrestler.
The fact that WWE kept him so long and always brought him back is actually a testament to what Ron Killings brings to a promotion. While he’s a solid worker, it is his CHARACTER and PERSONALITY that has honestly kept him employed for so long.
Go count how many 45+ year-olds are on the WWE active roster. Excluding R-Truth and many wrestlers under “WWE Legends” deals who aren’t performing, CM Punk and John Cena (excluding The Rock who is a TKO Board Member, no longer a performer) are the only guys over 45 years of age on the active WWE roster. With due respect to R-Truth, but Cena and Punk are exceptional Main Event talents and John Cena is literally on his retirement tour right now. Punk is another torn tricep away from retirement.
I still admire the fact that WWE gave R-Truth one last big send-off before releasing him. Most of the time, wrestlers disappear for weeks or months, at a time before getting released. R-Truth got to work a meaningful program with the top World Champion and on broadcast television for NBC’s Saturday Night’s Main Event. That sounds like a respectful way to use R-Truth before his exit.
Now, what WWE needs to work on is tact and manners… Sorry, but a Sunday release out-of-no where just seems tacky and when it’s just with 1 wrestlers, it seems targeted and with a message. WWE needs to work on their bedside manner when it comes to wrestler releases because these terminations affect lives. Any wrestler with a family, car or house loan, and any other financial obligations need to know how to predict their future a little better than what they can with WWE as an employer. R-Truth is married with 5 kids and is trying to put each through college right now. Suddenly releasing him impairs his ability to project income for his 2025 and beyond expenses.
And why release him? The guy has obvious TALENT as a character… Couldn’t that be taught in the NXT Developmental System? The guy literally had a character that drew based not necessarily on wrestling. All he had to do, each week, was appear backstage and say something ridiculous that caused fans to remember it forever. “Dom and Nick Mysterio”… Wouldn’t you want to teach that simple idea of DOING MORE WITH LESS to your instructional talents? The fact that R-Truth has made it to 53 and remains relatively healthy should be the role model for your incoming talents. Why? Because he didn’t have to break his back falling off ladders or jumping into tables… He just had to be a funny character and protect that character.
If you’re any promotion, other than WWE right now, that’s what you need to think about… In the short-term, R-Truth could be an entertaining wrestler on your roster. However, long-term, what can he teach my younger wrestlers about DOING MORE WITH LESS in terms of character and personality?
I’m already seeing the usual ”Vince McMahon wouldn’t have released him?” Yeah, he was released by Vince during August 2001. And Vince was a lot more aggressive at releasing wrestlers than the Triple H regime. Hey online marks, do you remember complaining HEAVILY about the 2020-2022 wrestler releases? I do… And again, if you want Vince McMahon to return so badly, then you need to OWN the bad creative decisions of the 2010s and all of the sexual indiscretions that comes with him.
It’s a bummer and I wish that WWE would have a better process for releasing wrestlers instead of doing it on a random Sunday… BUT, I understand what they are doing by squeezing the last drop out of that turnip before sending it off to the pasture. R-Truth is 53 years old, always a midcard talent for WWE, and worked a main event program on his way out. All the while working in the WWE since 2008… 17 straight years in the WWE is impressive.
My favorite all-time R-Truth moment was the Royal Rumble 2016 moment with the ladder where R-Truth grabbed a ladder, set it up inside the ring, and then tried to climb it in the center of the ring only to be baffled that no title or briefcase was up there. So simple, and yet it’s a moment that EVERYBODY remembers. Truth didn’t have to get thrown off the ladder or get slammed into tables, but just have a silly moment.
If this is truly the end of your WWE career, THANK YOU R-Truth. I’ll always remember your character and great moments.