Eric Bischoff has weighed in on the controversy surrounding R-Truth’s recent WWE departure and return, asserting that the entire situation was a planned storyline. The topic arose on the 83 Weeks podcast, where the former WCW executive dismissed the notion that Ron Killings was genuinely fired.
During the discussion with Conrad Thompson, Bischoff challenged the wrestling community’s understanding of insider terms, specifically targeting those who insisted the release was authentic.
“People, what is a work? I love it when people use these terms, and not necessarily you Conrad, but in general, in the internet wrestling community, they throw this word around like they really understand what they’re talking about. And they don’t. And it’s evidenced by people saying it is definitely not a work.”
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Bischoff elaborated on his position, defining a “work” within the context of professional wrestling as a narrative crafted to elicit a specific emotion to further an angle. He argued that the R-Truth scenario perfectly fits this description.
“What is a work? In the context of a professional wrestling conversation, what is a work? It’s an act. It’s a narrative that’s designed to create an emotion, a very specific emotion that advances a storyline. It’s a work. It’s an angle. The f*g definition of what it’s achieved and continues to achieve, it’s self-defining. It’s a work.”
Thompson countered by pointing out that WWE had removed R-Truth’s popular “Ron Cena” merchandise right before his exit was announced, a detail that fueled fan belief that the release was real. Despite this, Bischoff remained steadfast in his conviction.
Adding another veteran perspective, AEW’s Jeff Jarrett criticized WWE’s handling of the matter on his “My World” podcast. Jarrett suggested the company missed an opportunity to be transparent, regardless of whether it was a legitimate mistake or a storyline. He viewed the official explanation from Triple H to simply “enjoy the show” as an act of ego.
“To me, it’s only ego that you don’t say, ‘Hey, man, we screwed up as a company and let him go,’” Jarrett stated, questioning the logic behind parting ways with a universally beloved performer.
The debate surrounds a series of events that saw Killings return at Money in the Bank on June 7. This comeback initiated a significant character shift, with Killings abandoning the comedic R-Truth persona. On the June 9 episode of WWE RAW, he symbolically cut his signature braids in the ring, announcing his new, more serious direction under his real name.
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