Ron Killings, better known to the WWE Universe as R-Truth, recently offered a vibrant, unfiltered look at his career, detailing how his passion for music led him to wrestling, the significance of his groundbreaking championship win, and his definitive—if self-serving—ranking of the all-time greats.
The Cypher Showdown and His Musical Roots
When the topic of a rap battle with John Cena came up, R-Truth was quick to dismiss the competition, asserting his unique place in the game.
“I don’t compare myself to anybody because I’m one of my own kind… I got my own lane. You can’t compare nobody else to me because there’s only ONE of me,” he stated confidently, adding a classic line: “I’m that baddest thing happening right now; I’m that baddest thing since grits! So, it’s like that!”
His confidence is built on a deep appreciation for hip-hop history. He rattled off an eclectic list of influences, starting with the foundation: Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, and Eric B & Rakim. More current inspirations include Tupac, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, Meek Mill, Lil Baby, and Uzi Vert.
He explained that his own music is about channeling pure emotion: “Music is all about how you feel. It touches your emotions… We just create the music that we feel man. And I said it before, it’s just good ass music.”
The “Rapper Found the Wrestler”
R-Truth shared that for him, wrestling and music are inseparable, making their balance “easy man. It’s almost like balancing and walking.” In fact, it was the music that opened the door to his wrestling career.
He recalled attending his very first wrestling show with promoter Jack Crockett. When Crockett pointed out Ric Flair, he told R-Truth, “See? That can be you with your own music!”
“When the music hit first, the people went crazy! And Crockett said, ‘See? That can be you with your own music!'” R-Truth remembered. He was instantly captivated by the “highest point of crazietivity!” that Flair’s entrance music inspired. “Wrestling just goes with music man and wrestling is in tune with your emotions. We can make you mad, happy, sad or glad and music does the same thing.”
The Unforgettable Meaning of the NWA Title
R-Truth achieved a profound accomplishment in his early career: becoming the first Black NWA World Heavyweight Champion—a feat he never fully grasped until years later.
He was told by Jeff Jarrett’s father that they had to go before the NWA Board for any Black wrestler to hold that title. “The more I would see people and go places and they would remind me of that and it would make me humble myself again,” he said.
Seeing the growth in the industry, with African-American men holding prominent positions, now fills him with immense pride. “To see the legacy and the track record of Blacks that made it in this business, man… to be a part of that? It’s like a…. I can’t even express that how warm and good that feels,” he said, citing Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, Bobby Lashley, Booker T, and Ron Simmons as inspirations. “It gives other Blacks something to look forward to saying to them, I can do that! I can be just like that! It’s an inspiration and that can’t be touched. Money can’t buy it.”
R-Truth also highlighted his work with the 24/7 Championship, boasting that his comedic reign led to the title belt getting “more views than WWE Raw and Smackdown were getting,” an accomplishment he considers highly prestigious.
The Best in the Business and Wrestling’s Pantheon
When asked to name the “MJ, Kobe and LeBron” of wrestling, R-Truth offered an insightful list based on their storytelling ability and technique:
- Michael Jordan: The Rock
- Kobe Bryant: Roman Reigns
- LeBron James: Randy Orton
He praised Orton and Reigns, saying, “They can tell a story that can compel you and draw you in… Watching them is like watching a painting being painted by Norman Rockwell.”
Finally, when asked for his all-time Top 5 wrestlers, R-Truth, living up to his singular persona, did not hesitate: “Ron Killings/ R-Truth, Ron Killings/ R-Truth, Ron Killings/ R-Truth, Ron Killings/ R-Truth and Ron Killings/ R-Truth! I’m THAT dope!“
