During the May 23, 2025, WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) SmackDown broadcast from Savannah, Georgia, R-Truth delivered a notable promo comparing his former “childhood hero” and upcoming opponent, John Cena, to the character Gollum, attributing a significant change in Cena to the pressures of power and fame ahead of their Undisputed World Title match.
Appearing in the EnMarket Arena towards the end of SmackDown’s second hour, R-Truth addressed the audience regarding his impending Undisputed World Title match against John Cena at Saturday Night’s Main Event on May 24. He explained that the John Cena he is set to face in Tampa is not the man he once knew, stating that power and fame have disconnected and isolated Cena. R-Truth then drew a comparison to the “Lord of the Rings” character Gollum, suggesting Cena now stares at his championship, calling it “his precious.” While expressing that he misses his hero, R-Truth conveyed his determination to fight Cena and attempt to “bring John Cena back.”
This confrontation at Saturday Night’s Main Event will be their first singles match since 2011 and is part of what has been referred to as John Cena’s farewell tour. The storyline escalated after Cena attacked R-Truth following Backlash, leading to this high-stakes championship encounter. R-Truth, who has long referred to Cena as his “childhood hero” in a running joke that has now culminated in this significant bout, concluded his intense promo by declaring, “if Cena wins, we riot.”
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