Veteran Slams Triple H’s Ron Killings Booking: “Holy Crap This Guy Is 53”
Former WWE writer Vince Russo believes the company is missing a key element in the new Ron Killings storyline by not incorporating his age.
Vince Russo has voiced criticism of the creative direction for Ron Killings, arguing that WWE is failing to capitalize on a key aspect of the performer’s real life. Speaking on his “BroDown” podcast, the former WWE writer stated that the company should have incorporated Killings’ age into the storyline surrounding his brief on-screen release.
“They’re missing with R-Truth. I think this is what they’re really missing. And this should have been part of what Triple H should have said. When Triple H said, listen man, we had to make some budget cuts, the guy has been here for 19 years. Triple H should have said, and he’s also 53-year-old,” Russo said.
Russo elaborated that emphasizing Killings’ age and physical condition would be a powerful tool for generating fan support for the character.
“Bro, lean into Truth being 53, man. And the kind of shape he’s in, that will get the people behind him. Lean into that. People will be like, holy crp this guy is 53. I don’t understand why everything is so cookie-cutter. Nothing is thought through. They dress nothing up,”* he added.
Russo’s comments come as Killings has undergone a significant character transformation, abandoning his comedic R-Truth persona for a more serious disposition under his real name. The new direction intensified on the June 13 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, where Killings attacked Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena on two separate occasions, at one point locking him in the STF submission hold.
The repeated assaults led to SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis officially scheduling a match between Killings and Cena for the upcoming June 20 broadcast.
The character shift has drawn other industry commentary, including from WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray, who questioned on his “Busted Open” radio show whether fans would embrace the serious persona after years of the entertaining R-Truth character.
Killings addressed such critiques during a subsequent appearance on “Busted Open,” offering a forceful defense of his new identity.
“Who the f**k he talking to? Who he telling me who I am? I know who I am… They better put some respect on my name, ’cause I am the truth… I’m not angry. I just won’t be taken advantage of no more. Things going to change around here. I’m driving now,” Killings stated.
