R-Truth Credits Nick Khan for His WWE Return, Explains Why He Abandoned His More Serious ‘Ron Killings’ Persona

During a recent interview with The New York Post, WWE Superstar R-Truth spoke about the period around his WWE return after his exit, when WWE initially opted not to renew his contract earlier in June. R-Truth, aka Ron Killings, credited WWE President Nick Khan for arranging the deal, ushering in his WWE return.

Speaking on Nick Khan arranging his return to WWE, R-Truth stated, “Yes. Nick. Yes. Man, that meant a lot to me. That meant so much to me, man. And we sat on the phone for like an hour. I really appreciated him calling me—and the things he said to me on the phone.”

R-Truth later made a shocking and surprise return to WWE at Money in the Bank 2025. He interfered in the main event tag team match, featuring Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso teaming up against John Cena and Logan Paul, attacking Cena for some payback. The next night on Raw, R-Truth shaved his hair and declared that he was going by his real name, Ron Killings, which he hadn’t used since his TNA Wrestling days.

R-Truth would go on to face his rival Cena in a rematch on the June 20 edition of WWE SmackDown, winning the match by disqualification. A short time later, John Cena abandoned his heel turn, going babyface again shortly before his WWE Title rematch against Cody Rhodes at WWE SummerSlam 2025.

As a result of John Cena going babyface again, R-Truth abandoned his more serious Ron Killings persona during a Friday Night SmackDown television segment with the once-again babyface John Cena on August 8. Speaking about briefly portraying a more serious character in WWE after years of being more of a comedy act, R-Truth stated to the NY Post, “It felt good. I think everybody has that part of them inside of them they want to let go and just come back with purpose, and come back with selfish purposes. It felt exhilarating.”

However, R-Truth explained that what the people really wanted was the more comedic R-Truth, and not Ron Killings. He explained, “But when you go back to it, that’s not, those people want to see R-Truth. The guy that made chicken salad out of ****, you know what I’m saying? They want to see that guy that can take your emotions and make you feel.” The former WWE US Champion continued, “And the generational connection he had with my mom, my dad, my grandfather, my niece, my nephew, my uncle. When I was down and out…you made me believe. You made me feel. That’s who they missed. I think everybody has that Ron Killings that [comes] out…we all got that inside of us.”

Thus, R-Truth’s short-lived period as Ron Killings in WWE is effectively over, and R-Truth is “back” once again. The 53-year-old wrestler last wrestled in a dark match for the August 15 edition of WWE SmackDown, beating Aleister Black by disqualification.