R-Truth’s unexpected return to WWE at Money in the Bank 2025 sent shockwaves through the wrestling world—not just because of his surprise appearance, but because of the swirling confusion about whether his recent WWE release was ever real to begin with. Now, new backstage details are shedding light on the truth behind Truth’s return.
According to Fightful Select, Ron “R-Truth” Killings was legitimately released by WWE prior to MITB, despite speculation that the whole situation was a storyline. The company reportedly faced significant backlash from fans and internal talent alike over the decision to cut the beloved veteran. That wave of support may have played a role in WWE reaching back out to Truth to gauge his interest in returning.
Initially, Killings was not responsive to WWE’s offers. But things changed when WWE President Nick Khan personally reached out, leading to a quick turnaround. In fact, sources say the deal to bring Truth back together came together within a week of the pay-per-view. Although Paul “Triple H” Levesque dropped some cryptic comments at the post-show press conference that hinted at the situation being a work, Fightful reports that’s not the case at all.
Backstage, the reaction to R-Truth’s return was overwhelmingly positive. Several sources described the locker room as “ecstatic” to see him back, viewing the move as a morale boost amid what had been a turbulent few weeks. The sentiment among both talent and fans was clear: Truth is not just a comedic staple—he’s a locker room favorite and respected veteran.
As for what’s next, those close to Killings say he’s planning one final serious run before he officially hangs up his boots. Given how long he’s entertained audiences with both comedy and underrated in-ring work, fans can expect a memorable sendoff—possibly even with gold in sight.
With WWE’s recent track record of blending reality and fiction, the Truth saga initially felt like another clever storyline. But according to multiple insiders, this was a rare case of a real-world misstep being corrected in real time, with the added bonus of creating a jaw-dropping return moment in the process.
Less than 24 hours after the bombshell news of R-Truth’s WWE release rocked the wrestling world, fans made their voices heard loud and clear during Monday Night Raw — and they weren’t letting up.
Throughout the night inside the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, chants of “We Want Truth” echoed across the arena, sending a powerful message to WWE brass: the WWE Universe isn’t ready to say goodbye to Ron Killings.
The fan-fueled movement started as early as the opening segment featuring CM Punk and Sami Zayn, with the crowd drowning out parts of their promo to chant for the longtime fan favorite. The passion didn’t stop there — similar chants broke out during the women’s Money in the Bank qualifying match and continued through the tag match between The Judgment Day and The War Raiders. By the time the night’s main event — a MITB qualifier featuring El Grande Americano, AJ Styles, and CM Punk — rolled around, the crowd was still going strong.
Signs in the audience further underlined the sentiment. One declared, “Re-sign R-Truth or we riot,” while another simply stated, “We Want Truth.” On social media, #WeWantTruth shot up the trending list on X (formerly Twitter), with fans and wrestlers alike voicing their disbelief and support.
Even backstage, the message was clear: R-Truth’s presence is deeply missed. Rhea Ripley was spotted wearing an R-Truth t-shirt in a backstage segment, while Dominik Mysterio appeared wearing a Carlito shirt — another star recently let go by the company.
A Release No One Saw Coming
The release of R-Truth came as a gut punch to fans and fellow wrestlers alike. Just one night before, he had competed on Saturday Night’s Main Event in a match against none other than WWE Champion John Cena. The decision to release him so abruptly, despite his active role on TV and his status as a beloved veteran, has reportedly sent shockwaves through the locker room — a stark reminder that no one’s spot is guaranteed.
Cena himself weighed in on the news, joining a long list of current and former WWE Superstars paying tribute to Truth, a man respected not only for his longevity and comedic brilliance, but for being one of the most genuine people in the business.
What’s Next for R-Truth?
While WWE hasn’t publicly commented on the release beyond their standard “future endeavors” statement, speculation is already swirling about what comes next for Truth. Could a return be on the table if fan response grows louder? Or will he take his talents elsewhere?
For now, one thing’s for certain: the WWE Universe isn’t ready to move on — and they’re not being quiet about it.
Whether this is a chapter closed or just a detour, fans have made one thing clear: Truth still matters.
Los cánticos de "We Want Truth" durante la triple threat de clasificación para el MITB femenino. Que se oyen muchísimo. #WWERAWpic.twitter.com/7ixaRnYNCc
According to Fightful Select, the veteran performer — real name Ron Killings — was informed over the weekend by WWE’s talent relations team that his deal would not be renewed. The call reportedly caught Truth off guard, and it’s easy to see why: he’s been viewed as a WWE lifer, a beloved figure both in front of the camera and backstage.
Importantly, sources confirmed that the decision wasn’t disciplinary in nature. Truth wasn’t released for misconduct or any backstage issues. In fact, WWE made it clear he’d done nothing wrong — which only added to the confusion surrounding the call.
Backstage, the mood has reportedly been anything but calm. Several WWE talents have privately expressed disappointment and frustration, with one top name calling the move “total nonsense” and another labeling WWE leadership “ruthless.” It’s one of the most vocal negative reactions to a talent departure in recent memory, underscoring just how much respect Killings commands among his peers.
Adding to the confusion is the fact that R-Truth remains one of WWE’s most reliable merchandise movers. His “Ron Cena” T-shirt — a parody creation leading into his recent Saturday Night’s Main Event tag match with John Cena — was among the company’s top sellers in May.
For fans keeping track, this isn’t the first time Killings has had to navigate life outside WWE. Before becoming a mainstay on Raw and SmackDown, he made waves in TNA and the NWA as Ron “The Truth” Killings, where he became one of the first Black world champions in a major American promotion. He also produced his own entrance theme music during that run — and reportedly still owns the rights — a useful tool if he decides to step back into the ring elsewhere.
Though no final date for his WWE exit has been announced, interest from indie promotions is already heating up. Expect R-Truth to have options — and a spotlight — wherever he lands next.
Stay locked in with WrestlingNewsBlog.com for updates on Truth’s post-WWE future.
It looks like the WWE roster will be getting a little thinner in the coming weeks.
According to recent reports, longtime WWE talents R-Truth and Carlito have been informed that their contracts will not be renewed. Both deals are nearing their expiration dates, with Carlito specifically noting that he has about two weeks left on his current deal. Once his contract officially ends, his non-compete clause will kick in — likely keeping him on the sidelines for about 30 days before he’s free to explore opportunities elsewhere.
The news comes as something of a surprise, especially for R-Truth, who’s been a staple of WWE programming for years and recently returned to TV in comedic fashion as part of The Judgment Day saga. As for Carlito, his return to WWE was a fan-favorite moment last year, but he hasn’t been consistently featured in recent months.
While nothing is official until those contracts expire, it looks like both veterans will soon hit the open market. Whether they find themselves back in WWE down the line or pop up in another promotion remains to be seen.
According to wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer, the decision to let go of R-Truth and Carlito comes down to roster changes. WWE is currently undergoing changes to make room for fresh talent from NXT
R-Truth and Carlito responded to the news with post on X which you can see below:
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 🙏🏾
My contract is up in 2 weeks. It will not be renewed. On top of that, WWE is demanding I pay back the $ they paid me for apparently “stealing money” from the company. I’ve had my lawyers look into it and after reviewing my footage on Netflix for the past months they suggested I… pic.twitter.com/H7depyZt5g
WWE’s first premium live event following WrestleMania XL delivered on chaos, surprises, and hard-hitting drama. With four championship matches, an unexpected debut, and a main event filled with controversy, Backlash 2025 set the tone for a turbulent summer in WWE.
United States Championship Fatal 4-Way: Jacob Fatu (c) def. Drew McIntyre, Damian Priest, and LA Knight
The United States Championship match exploded into action from the opening bell, with each man quickly rekindling post-WrestleMania rivalries. While Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest battled outside, LA Knight used the chaos to send Jacob Fatu crashing into the ring post. Momentum swung early and often, with Knight briefly taking control before Priest, McIntyre, and the champ started a cycle of signature offense.
An explosive exchange saw Fatu deliver a senton to McIntyre, only to eat Knight’s BFT, which led to a Priest chokeslam, followed by a Claymore from McIntyre — but no pinfall.
As the ring cleared, McIntyre seemed poised for victory after hitting Knight with a Claymore, but Priest yanked him out of the ring, robbing him once again. That sparked a brutal brawl between the two up the ramp and into the timekeeper’s area, culminating in Priest hitting South of Heaven off a production box through a table.
Back in the ring, Knight nearly had it won with a pair of elbow drops on Fatu — but the Samoan Werewolf refused to stay down. Just when Knight looked ready to end it, Solo Sikoa appeared to rescue the champion, dragging him to safety. That distraction allowed a mystery man, revealed to be Jeff Cobb, to ambush Knight.
Cobb demolished LA and fed him to a confused but opportunistic Fatu, who hit a moonsault for the pin. The champ retained, but his post-match stare-down with Sikoa and the debuting Cobb hinted that bigger moves may be in motion.
In a fiercely contested bout, Lyra Valkyria proved she’s more than a rising star — she’s a fighting champion. The challenger, Becky Lynch, leaned hard into her heel tendencies, taunting both the crowd and Lyra’s fiancé at ringside, using every trick in the book to get under the champ’s skin.
Despite Lynch’s mind games and underhanded tactics — including exposing a turnbuckle and going for a steel chair — Valkyria stayed composed. A key sequence saw her hit a devastating top-rope leg drop and later a Nightwing, but a delayed count due to Carr’s distraction allowed Lynch to kick out.
The finish came after a frenzied exchange of reversals and an eye poke from Lynch. Valkyria outsmarted the veteran by reversing a roll-up for the three-count. Lynch lost it post-match, refusing to release a Dis-Arm-Her on the champ. It took GM Adam Pearce and officials to restore order, with commentary speculating Valkyria may have suffered a broken nose.
Penta gave Dirty Dom all he could handle in this first-time-ever match, taking early control and stunning the champ with a destroyer on the apron. But Judgment Day’s presence loomed large, and when Penta dove onto Carlito and JD McDonagh, Finn Bálor was able to distract the referee.
That allowed El Grande Americano to strike — headbutting Penta with a loaded mask just as he prepared for a high-flying attack. Mysterio hit a frog splash to steal the win and retain the Intercontinental Championship. The Judgment Day stood tall on the ramp, looking more unified than they have in weeks.
Gunther def. Pat McAfee via Submission
Pat McAfee returned to the ring in front of a hyped St. Louis crowd, but found out quickly that Gunther doesn’t do comedy matches. The Austrian juggernaut brutalized McAfee with his signature stiff offense, but the commentator-turned-wrestler showed incredible heart.
A spirited comeback — and some help from Michael Cole, who actually grabbed Gunther’s foot — gave McAfee a glimmer of hope. A sleeper and roll-up nearly shocked the world, but in the end, Gunther’s technical dominance was too much. He choked McAfee out cold, winning via submission while sending a message that even entertainment personalities aren’t safe in his ring.
Undisputed WWE Championship: John Cena (c) def. Randy Orton
In a wild, main event clash filled with mind games and veteran counters, John Cena once again walked away as Undisputed Champion — but not without controversy.
The match began with mutual gamesmanship and turned personal quickly. Cena poked Orton in the eye during a fake handshake, and it was off to the races. The Viper dished out punishment with stomps, DDTs, and even a table spot on the outside. Cena responded with multiple Attitude Adjustments and even tried a punt kick of his own.
Ref bumps, interference teases, and multiple finisher kickouts left the match teetering on chaos. After Orton fought off GM Nick Aldis’ staff, R-Truth tried to intervene, only to be dropped with an RKO. That allowed Cena to blast Orton with the championship belt. With the referee slowly getting into position, Cena covered and scored the controversial win.
Post-match, Cena declared himself the last real champion and dismissed the crowd — but when a “Thank you Cena” chant broke out, the 16-time world champ paused, appearing to fight off emotion before walking to the back, title in hand.
John Cena attacks R-Truth at the WWE Backlash Press Conference
The WWE Backlash post-show press conference in St. Louis took an unexpected turn when 17-time World Champion John Cena made a surprise appearance—one that ended with R-Truth eating a table.
After quietly exchanging a few words with WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Cena took the mic to a big reaction. Levesque dubbed him the “Greatest of All-Time” before handing over the floor, and Cena stepped up in a notably subdued tone. Sounding more like one of his introspective tweets than the fiery Cena fans are used to, the champ said he felt it was time to “step forward” and address the media personally following his latest successful title defense.
Cena promised to answer any question the press had, starting with one about his longtime rival and opponent from the Backlash main event, Randy Orton. But before he could get a word in, chaos arrived in the form of R-Truth.
Bursting into the room, Truth excitedly called out for his “childhood hero,” clearly thrilled to see Cena after his big win. At first, Cena took the interruption in stride with a smile. That changed quickly when Truth, in his usual mix of comedy and confusion, mentioned that some people say Cena “sucks and can’t wrestle.”
That struck a nerve.
Cena’s demeanor darkened, warning Truth that he’d crossed a line and better not push his luck. But, of course, Truth being Truth, he didn’t stop talking.
That’s when Cena snapped—lifting Truth and sending him crashing through the press conference table in front of a stunned media crowd.
While the status of Truth after the attack hasn’t been officially updated, it’s clear that Cena’s current title run is coming with a new edge—and a much shorter fuse. As for the soul-searching Cena alluded to? If this moment is any indication, it may be leading him down a darker path than fans are used to.
John Cena’s shocking heel turn at WWE Elimination Chamber 2025 has left the WWE Universe stunned—but perhaps no one is more affected than R-Truth. A longtime admirer of Cena, Truth has often parodied and mimicked the 16-time world champion, even calling him his childhood hero. Now, with Cena embracing the dark side in brutal fashion, Truth is struggling to accept the change.
Denial Runs Deep: “Say It Ain’t So, John”
Following Cena’s vicious assault on Cody Rhodes inside the Elimination Chamber, Truth took to social media to express his disbelief. In one of his posts on X (formerly Twitter), he questioned why Cena would do such a thing. He even went so far as to suggest that the brutal images of a bloodied Cody Rhodes were AI-generated, seemingly unable to process the reality of Cena’s betrayal.
Truth also made a subtle but telling change to his X profile header, which now reads: “Say it ain’t so, John.” It’s clear that Cena’s heel turn has hit Truth on a deeply personal level.
A Long and Complicated History
Truth and Cena’s history goes back nearly two decades. From their battles over the WWE Championship to their moments of friendship and rivalry, their paths have intertwined many times. Interestingly, Truth recently revealed that he and Cena recorded a rap song together, dispelling rumors that there was any real-life tension between them.
However, one fan on X reminded Truth of his own dark past, posting a throwback image of Truth smoking a cigarette during his 2011 heel run on Monday Night Raw. The implication? That Truth knows exactly what it’s like to embrace villainy, even if he refuses to accept Cena’s current transformation.
Could Truth Get Involved in Cena’s Feud with Cody Rhodes?
While Cena’s betrayal of Rhodes is set to play a major role in the ongoing Road to WrestleMania 41, Truth’s recent interactions with Cody on Raw raise an interesting question—could he somehow be pulled into this high-profile feud?
Cena and Truth last shared a ring on the Raw after WrestleMania 40, teaming with The Miz to defeat The Judgment Day. But with Cena now aligned with The Rock and seemingly embracing a darker persona, Truth may find himself at a crossroads. Will he stand against his former hero, or will he try to reason with the man who once inspired him?
One thing is certain: R-Truth isn’t ready to accept this new version of John Cena just yet.
“Just trying to stay positive,” Truth wrote on social media, sharing the music video for his new single “For Real.” The single was released on February 28, just a day before Cena joined “The Final Boss” Dwayne Johnson’s quest to take Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes’s soul.
WWE Superstar R-Truth is believed to have suffered a torn quadriceps during this week’s episode of WWE NXT.
On the show, Truth faced Grayson Waller but failed to clear the top rope, causing the former 24/7 Champion to land badly on his left leg.
In an update, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that “the belief was that he tore his quad, which is a very serious injury that could keep him out for a long time.”
WWE has not publicly confirmed whether Truth suffered a torn quadriceps.
Veteran WWE Superstar R-Truth apparently suffered a lower leg injury during his match against Grayson Waller on the 11/01 episode of “WWE NXT.”
During the early stages of the match, Truth attempted a Tope con Giro / Vaulting Senton with Waller in position to take the bump on the outside. However, Truth evidently slipped and landed on the floor, barely touching Waller at all. Truth immediately clutched at his leg as WWE cut to a commercial break. During the break, the picture-in-picture remained focused on Waller, who returned to the ring and spent several minutes mocking the crowd at the WWE Performance Center. When “NXT” returned on the air, it was announced that Truth was unable to continue the match, as he was helped to the back by WWE medical personnel.
Waller used the opportunity to generate more heat for his character, cutting a promo and even performing a spinaroonie to taunt 2-time WWE Hall of Famer Booker T as he gloated about the win.
Truth has been a regular fixture on both “WWE Raw” and “NXT” in recent weeks, interrupting promo segments from the likes of Brock Lesnar, Baron Corbin, Johnny Gargano, and The Miz. During this time, Truth has been stepping out to the ring every time any Superstar has uttered the word “truth” during a promo.
The Waller vs. R-Truth match was set up on last week’s “NXT” after Waller undermined Wes Lee’s North American Title victory at Halloween Havoc, stressing that “the truth” was Lee did not deserve to win any championship gold in WWE. This led to R-Truth interrupting the segment, before erroneously welcoming the crowd to Halloween Havoc. The segment ended with Truth & Lee tossing Waller to the outside after Waller challenged Truth to a match.
WWE has yet to provide an update on R-Truth’s injury status at the time of this posting.
It’s now confirmed that Drake Maverick dropped the WWE 24/7 Title after getting married to indie wrestler Renee Michelle on Thursday.
R-Truth is your new WWE 24/7 Champion as he appeared at the ceremony with a referee. Truth is now a six-time WWE 24/7 Champion. Drake just won the title on Tuesday’s SmackDown by defeating Truth.
WWE has released video from the title change above. Maverick was confronted by Truth and the referee as he and Renee were leaving the ceremony.
EC3 was Drake’s best man and Braun Strowman was also a groomsman.
While WWE 24/7 Champion R-Truth was relaxing on a golf course with Carmella on Sunday, Jinder Mahal ambushed R-Truth and very briefly won the 24/7 title before R-Truth quickly won it back and made his escape with Carmella in their golf cart.
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