R-Truth’s recent transformation into a more serious and violent competitor culminated in a significant victory on this past Friday’s edition of SmackDown. The veteran scored a non-title win over his self-proclaimed “childhood idol,” John Cena, after Cena struck him with his championship belt, resulting in a disqualification. The victory serves as a stark contrast to his loss against Cena during the Saturday Night’s Main Event on May 24.
The win comes amid a confusing but compelling evolution for the superstar. On the June 10 episode of WWE RAW, he made a dramatic change by cutting off his signature dreadlocks in the ring and announcing he would go by his real name, Ron Killings. In a subsequent TikTok live video, he expressed that the new, shorter haircut felt more fitting for the serious direction he was taking.
However, just ten days later during the SmackDown broadcast, WWE reversed the name change. Throughout his main event encounter with Cena, both on-screen graphics and the commentary team referred to him exclusively as R-Truth, abandoning the Ron Killings persona. While he maintained the new haircut, the reason for the sudden reversal in creative direction remains unclear.
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Following the win, Truth took to X to reveal another update to his appearance, posting an image of himself in a dungaree suit, black sunglasses, and a round cap. This new look aligns with his altered demeanor, which is a departure from the comedic antics that defined his character for years.
His newfound aggression was also on display earlier in the night. For no apparent reason, Truth attacked Pretty Deadly’s Kit Wilson before Wilson’s scheduled match against Aleister Black, reinforcing that he is now a far more menacing presence on the roster.
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