John Cena allegedly wanted R-Truth to stay; WWE didn't want talent to wear Truth's merchandise on Raw: Reports

The current Undisputed WWE Champion had a last dance with R-Truth at SNME!

In a shocking turn of events, WWE veteran Ron Killings, better known among fans by R-Truth, announced on June 1, 2025, that his time with WWE had officially come to an end.

After 17 years of entertaining fans with his unmatched charisma and comedic brilliance, the 53-year-old icon bid farewell to the WWE Universe.

While many fans and wrestlers alike expressed disappointment over his release, a new report suggests that one of WWE‘s biggest stars tried to prevent the decision from becoming a reality.

John Cena, who had been feuding with R-Truth as part of his farewell run, reportedly made a personal effort to keep his longtime friend in the company.

Wrestling insider Chris The Wrestling Informer revealed that Cena “requested to add a program with R-Truth into his farewell tour in attempt to convince the WWE higher-ups that his old friend could still be a valuable asset to the company.”

Unfortunately, Cena’s efforts fell short, and R-Truth’s departure was sealed long before his final appearance on SmackDown.

UPDATE : R-Truth’s release from WWE was reportedly planned since earlier this year by Nick Khan who did put his name on the cost benefit analysis list before it was decided to letting him running down on his contract rather than cutting him among others. This is one of the… pic.twitter.com/KxPX5Grebc

— Chris The Wrestling Informer 🇧🇪 (@Thewrestlingin1) June 3, 2025

According to reports, Truth’s release was part of a calculated move by WWE President Nick Khan. His name was placed on a cost-benefit analysis list earlier this year, and while the company chose not to release him mid-contract, they opted to let his deal quietly expire.

“It’s just a contract thing, it’s a financial thing,” reported WrestleVotes. “Truth, for no reasons than he’s been around for a very long time, was making a lot of money. That’s the main reason he’s no longer a part of this company.”

The feud between John Cena and R-Truth gained fan attention during their clash at Backlash 2025, where Truth attempted to help Cena in a match against Randy Orton, only to be rewarded with an Attitude Adjustment through a table during the post-show press conference.

They continued their rivalry at Saturday Night’s Main Event, where Truth paid tribute to Cena by wearing gear that read “Ron Cena.” Cena ultimately won the match, but the moment symbolized their mutual respect.

Following Truth’s departure, Cena posted an image on social media of Truth wearing the parody t-shirt, a silent but heartfelt tribute. The gesture resonated with fans, but not with WWE management.

Even heel John Cena looks shooked after R-Truth announcing his departure from WWE 🚨#wwe pic.twitter.com/WnlHGsKS8z

— KN Wrestling (@knwrestling) June 2, 2025

WWE didn’t want their wrestlers supporting R-Truth & wearing his merch

In fact, WWE reportedly went out of their way to prevent talent from showing support for Truth during the June 2 edition of Monday Night Raw, which emanated from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

WrestleVotes stated that WWE instructed wrestlers not to wear any R-Truth merchandise on-air during the show.

“Supposedly they didn’t want any R-Truth shirts being worn by talent last night,” the report claimed.

Although Rhea Ripley was seen backstage wearing an R-Truth shirt, she changed before her televised backstage segment with Stephanie Vaquer.

Despite the internal restrictions, the crowd made their voices heard with chants of “We want Truth” and fan-made signs like “Re-sign R-Truth or we riot.” Clearly, the love for the veteran performer runs deep among the WWE Universe.

With interest from independent promotions and a direct invitation from TNA’s Head of Talent Relations, Tommy Dreamer, it’s safe to say R-Truth’s wrestling journey isn’t over yet. But his departure from WWE, and the behind-the-scenes politics surrounding it, mark the end of an era, one even John Cena tried to stop.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Wrestling on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram & Whatsapp.