INTERVIEW: R-Truth Talks 'WWE: Unreal S2,' Country Album, Contract Controversy, John Cena’s Retiring +More

Summary

The Breakfast Club — INTERVIEW: R-Truth Talks ‘WWE: Unreal S2,’ Country Album, Contract Controversy, John Cena’s Retiring + More

Podcast: The Breakfast Club (iHeartPodcasts)
Air Date: January 21, 2026
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Guest: R-Truth (Ron Killings)

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Episode Overview

This engaging episode welcomes WWE superstar and entertainer R-Truth (Ron Killings), delving into his remarkable journey from street hustler to wrestling icon, his foray into country music, contract drama with WWE, perspectives on the reality of wrestling, and the inspiration he draws from and hopes to pass to his fans. The conversation is candid, humorous, and layered with hard-won wisdom, as R-Truth pulls back the curtain on wrestling’s backstage realities and shares his philosophy on longevity, reinvention, and authenticity.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

R-Truth’s Origin Story: From the Streets to Wrestling

• Early Struggles: R-Truth reflects on a tumultuous youth, cycling through crime and jail, before a fateful encounter with Jack Crockett in a halfway house changed his trajectory.
  • “Somebody to believe in me in a halfway house. He said, when you get out, I’m going to give you a job. I thought the motherfucker was done.” ([02:41])
• Transition into Wrestling: Crockett introduces R-Truth to professional wrestling, taking him to WCW shows and planting the seed that he could combine performance, music, and sports.
  • R-Truth initially resisted for two years, returning to street life, but finally accepted and began training, eventually meeting Manny Fernandez (“raging bull”) who guided him in and outside the ring.

Wrestling Career Highlights & Influence

• First Black NWA Champion:
  • “I became the first black NWA champion. And that title was around for 53 years.” ([07:48])
• Longevity and Reinvention:
  • “I think I’m more popular than I’ve ever been in my career. Right now. Right now.” ([08:20])
  • R-Truth credits constant reinvention—the latest being exposure through ‘WWE: Unreal S2’ on Netflix—for his staying power and relevance, especially among younger generations.

Transparency, Realism, and Comedy in Wrestling

• On Pulling Back the Curtain with ‘Unreal’:
  • R-Truth welcomes the increased transparency, believing fans benefit from seeing the hustle, improvisation (“audibles”), and genuine risks behind the spectacle:
    • “You get to get a deep inside look at... how the machine works... the sweat, blood, and tears... the drama, the dynamic, the diabolical that goes on.” ([10:21])
• Balancing the Fantasy with Reality:
  • While the entertainment aspect is central, the risks and unpredictability are very real; R-Truth recounts losing teeth in the ring—
    • “Worst thing that ever happened to me? Got all these kicked out.” ([14:13])
    • (Incident with Cesaro, see [14:29])
• Comedic Timing:
  • A natural entertainer, R-Truth sees his wit and physicality as innate—
    • “Comedic timing... Natural, okay. Natural, dog.” ([12:28])

Personal Life & Work-Life Balance

• Family Prioritization:
  • Despite his packed schedule, R-Truth treasures simple family moments—
    • “When I go home, I put that hat on. I’m a dad, I’m a husband, I’m a father... I love taking my daughters to the bus stop...” ([17:10])
• Injury and Opportunity:
  • Injury breaks enabled creative pursuits—his first country album, ‘The White Album’.

Music Career: Embracing Country

• Origin and Reception of ‘The White Album’:
  • A friend suggested a country project given his “country as hell” persona—
    • “I said, so no hip hop? He said, nah. I said, well, that shit should be called The White Album.” ([21:41])
  • The album charted on Billboard; R-Truth is planning a country tour—
    • “And I got a tour coming up, too.” ([22:11])
  • WWE/Netflix is supporting his music promotion, blending his wrestling and musical identities.

WWE Contract Controversy & Career Transition

• Contract Expiry/Release:
  • Talks through his emotional response to being let go after decades—
    • “I was just in a tunnel... at loss for words... loss for emotion.” ([25:36])
  • Lack of direct dialogue led him to feel disconnected, though he expresses gratitude for a long run and the outpouring of fan support:
    • “Over a hundred million people on all social medias... responded to that. That was a testament to... what I’ve dedicated my life to…” ([30:34])
• View on Endings and Legacy:
  • Sees the “release” as a renewal rather than an ending—
    • “Total sending to a new beginning. The S on my chest lit up. Like, sometimes we forget who we are.” ([31:43])
    • Hopes to leave an inspiring legacy: “If I did it from a pipe dream, like, you can do it. Anybody can do it.” ([33:42])

John Cena’s Retirement & Reflecting on His Own

• Influence of Cena’s Retirement:
  • Cena pushed for R-Truth to headline (“main event”) and inspired reflection on his own career trajectory—
    • “His retirement gave me ideas. And I know every ride come to a stop, right?” ([35:36])
    • Praises Cena’s guidance: “He’s one of the ones that told me, ‘one hill at a time,’ and I take that... with me.” ([36:16])
  • On his own future:
    • “It’s not time yet. The Universe spoke. Over 100 million people said that. It’s not time yet.” ([33:12])

International Reach & Upcoming Royal Rumble

• Saudi Arabia and Global WWE Appeal:
  • Enthuses about WWE’s first Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia:
    • “Saudi crowd, man, is like, they amp lit... and it’s fun, man.” ([38:17])
  • Notes the excitement and financial opportunities in global markets.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On wrestling’s evolution and being a pioneer:

  • “To be the first black NWA champion... Like how younger blacks look at me. Or like, oh, I can do that now.” ([08:10])

• Candid wisdom:

  • “Sometimes the universe got to give us these tools, resources, but we just got to apply them.” ([05:14])

• On taking risks and overcoming doubt:

  • “Anything new or change, we get allergic to it...But nah, I have an adapting personality.” ([24:28])

• Relatability and authenticity:

  • “I make mistakes. Yeah. I smoke cigarettes. Yeah, I used to smoke cigarettes. Yeah.” ([36:19])

• Empowering message:

  • “Believe in your motherfucking self. And if I did it, you can do it.” ([34:24])

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Important Timestamps

• [01:39] — R-Truth’s origin story, meeting Jack Crockett, and early struggles
• [07:48] — Becoming the first black NWA champion
• [08:20] — Reflections on career longevity and reinvention
• [10:21] — The value of transparency via ‘Unreal’
• [14:13] — Story about getting his teeth knocked out by Cesaro
• [17:08] — On balancing family and his career
• [18:04] — Creating his country album, ‘The White Album’
• [21:41] — How ‘The White Album’ originated
• [25:24] — The emotional fallout after his WWE contract was not renewed
• [30:34] — The power of fan support and public reaction
• [31:43] — Framing his release as a new beginning
• [33:12] — On not being ready to say goodbye
• [35:36] — John Cena’s retirement and influence
• [38:17] — Anticipation for the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia

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Tone & Style Notes

The conversation is raw, unguarded, and laced with R-Truth’s signature humor and Southern warmth. The hosts keep the mood lively while allowing R-Truth to share hard truths and personal joys, making the episode relatable whether you’re a wrestling fan or not.

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Final Takeaway

R-Truth’s episode is a vibrant testament to personal reinvention, authenticity, and the power of resilience. From overcoming adversity to breaking barriers in professional wrestling and venturing into new creative realms, he embodies staying true to oneself while embracing growth and change. His gratitude for the journey and commitment to inspiring others shine throughout, making this episode a must-listen for anyone chasing dreams or seeking motivation from the world’s most charismatic wrestling entertainer.

Transcript

[Angela Yee]

This is an Iheart podcast.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Guaranteed human peace of the planet.

Charlamagne Tha God here. And the end of the year is the time to set the foundation for next year. New ideas, new product drops, new goals. And when I'm building anything meaningful, I need the right tools. That's why I always tell folks, especially black entrepreneurs and small black owned businesses, Shopify is the move. We use it at the Black Effect Podcast network. And I've seen firsthand how it helps creators and business owners grow with confidence. Okay, Shopify is like having a whole team behind you. Your chief of staff, your personal assistant, your co founder, all in one platform. Wherever your people are, Shopify makes sure your business can meet them where they're at. So if you're ready to take the next step in your life, whether it's merch products or anything in between, get on shopify.com ben and make it happen. It is time to stop putting off your future and start your new role as your own boss. Today, hold up. Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

You all finish or y' all done?

[DJ Envy]

Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlamagne, the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. Lon Larose is here as well. We got a special guest in the building.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes, indeed, from the wwe.

[DJ Envy]

Ladies and gentlemen, R. Truth.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Welcome. Hey, appreciate it, man.

[DJ Envy]

How you feeling, brother?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Man, I'm feeling fantastic.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Amazing.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

I'm here with the. You know what I'm saying? My folks, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I'm glad to see you, brother. You look like you can fight for real.

Hell yeah.

Like, some wrestlers just be. No, some wrestlers just have the aesthetic. But you don't think they could probably do something in real life. They just big.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

You look like you can scrap Diana Strap. I'm dark skinned, you know what I'm saying?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Nothing to do with your complexion.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

But we grew up having to fight.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

You know what I'm saying? Like, I grew up having to fight, so yeah, yeah, I've been fighting since I was younger, but trained as well, too.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Is that what got you into actually wanting to be a professional wrestler?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Nah, man. What got me into it was a guy named Jack Crockett. I met him in the halfway house.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

And I've always wanted to be this big rap star. This big, you know what I'm saying? I want to be the next MC Hammer. But she's from the Bay Area, not from North Carolina. Charlotte. Okay, so no fold. Said more fold. You know what I'm saying? So, bro, this is Like a dream. Check it out. Meeting a guy named Jack Crockett in the halfway house. Selling them cookies on the street, you know what I'm saying? Doing my little thing, hustling for my dancers. I had dance groups. I done opened up for Tracy, Spencer, Chubb, Rob, Kwame. Back in the days, you can dance, you get busy. I've been going to Jack the Rapper, you know what I'm saying? I still dance, still do my thing.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay, so you're 60s, 70s, baby.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

What you mean? When was you born in 70s and 60s? I was born in 70s, 70s, 72. Okay, 72.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You give the babies.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Bro, I ain't got five kids. Babies are coming. Babies, yeah. Okay. But, yeah, so met Jack Crockett in the halfway house, you know what I'm saying? And this was like, I know how it feels to be somewhere. Like, I was 25, dog, and I didn't know what I want to do with my life. Didn't want to play football no more. Too many injuries. But I wanted to live this rap dream. Met Jack Crockett, bro, for somewhat. Somebody to believe in me in a halfway house. He said, when you get out, I'm going give you a job. I thought the motherfucker was done.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You good?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

You good or you can cuss on this motherfucker. Oh, shit. So I thought he wanted me to cut his grass or something, right? But that was the first time I was introduced to professional wrestling. Took me to three WCW shows in Atlanta. And, bro, I was sitting there. He was a cameraman at this time. He said, but I never gave back before. God told me to give back to you. So I'm like, okay, cool. So I'm sitting there watching Ric Flair. Music hit. First time at a wrestling show. You know what I'm saying, man? Ric Flair came down. Jack Crocker said, see, that could be you. How you was rapping and dancing and telling jokes in jail. And you. He said, you could be doing that. He said, and you could do the fighting, the splits you was doing. He said, you'll be able to have an audience. You'll be able to invest in your own self. Won't have to ask nobody else for nothing.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, it wasn't too many black wrestlers back then, too, especially. It was like junkyard. That was WWF for wcw.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Ron Simmons, Booker T. Steven Ray, Booker.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

T. Oh, Harlem Heat.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely.

Ernest Miller, when he told you that, did you believe that at the time?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

No. No, I didn't. Yes, I was. And see this again. This is life. We just grow and mature as we go, man. Like, you never stop. I'm sorry. You never stop. I can cuss on this. You never stop learning, right?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

And I turned him down for two years.

[Angela Yee]

Wow.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

And I actually went back out in the streets again. But I said, you know what? I remember I told my mom one time, I'm gonna sell drugs till they stopped making it. She like, you talking to your mother.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Till they stopped making them.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Jesus. That was. Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I never wanted to stop selling.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

That's who I needed.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

They was never gonna stop making drugs.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

She said, you'll stop. That's all she said, you'll stop. But I grew up with my uncle doing it. My family, like, it's. I thought it was the thing to do to get where you want to be at, you know. You know how it is, though. So it's like, I remember going back and forth to jail, back for the world, like, you know, I ain't want no more. You know what I'm saying? They ain't got to stop making it, but I ain't gonna, you know what I'm saying? Partake no more. So I went to, like, you know I'm saying, stick them up. And it was like they went from one crime to the next crime.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

He said, I'm gonna crime it out.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

I'm gonna crime. I was lost. I was stuck in a. Not knowing what you want to do with your life the rest of your life. You done gave up scholarships to Georgia Tech, Clemson, Syracuse for football. You done. What are you gonna do? What are you gonna do, man? So it was like I was stuck. I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You sure you're not the rapper baby from another multiverse? Nah, it's the baby from another universe.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Hey, though. But Jazz, I turned him down for two years. And it was that last time I went to jail. And that's when I met Crockett. And it was like how the Bible say, faith of a mustard seed or the ram in the bush. And all those little things made sense to me, man. Cause it was like I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. Yeah. And I was like, damn, I'd do something different, man. I'll do something. I'll do something. Crockett. Crockett told me he'd give me a job, and it wasn't cutting grass. So I called Crockett up. He came and picked me up, took me back to the same restaurant again. He said, this won't cost you nothing but time and dedication. I'm going to pay for everything. Wow. So sometimes the universe got to give us these tools, resources, but we just got to apply them. Right. Man, it's crazy how, like, he took me to one school, and people was like, you know how name association helps you out in life? Oh, Crockett brought you in here. Oh, dog. Let me show you this. Oh, he brought it up. Let me show you this, Let me show you that. Like, I had so many people showing me, from headlock takeovers to arm drags to wrist. You know what I'm saying? Top lobster, like, so it's like I just graduated. Met Manny Fernandez, a raging bull. He finished training me. He said, I'll teach you how to take care of yourself in the ring and outside the ring. Psychologically, wrestling may involve so much stuff. Just like, I'm sure with your job, it involves a lot. Yeah. Mentally, people don't even know about it. Right. So met Manny Fernandez, got trained, ended up in NWA Wildside Cornelia in Georgia, Bill Behrens. Rick Michaels said, hey, man, you belong on tv, dog. Let me make a tape for you. I mean, his dad was the camera guys there. Think about it now. I'm doing this. I ain't in the streets no more. I'm making $5, $7. Sometimes we got paid a hot dog.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Damn.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

That was like, on the Independence. I did Independence for four years, and.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It was before nwa, wcw, before I.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Got on tv, before any of that. I did independent. And that would just. You taste the blood. If you want to do this, you're going to do it, like, going inside and nobody there. You know what I'm saying? Like, five, six people, you know what I'm saying? You had to build it. But I was doing something different. I went a different route to get where I wanted to get to.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You're staying out the street, too.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

That's the most important thing, man. Mama was proud of me, man. My family was proud. You know what I'm saying? I was proud. And it just started, like, blossoming and growing and growing and growing, man. To where Rick Michael dad said, I'm gonna make a tape for you. Made a tape for me. This is years ago now. You know what I'm saying? I'm 53. I turned 54 yesterday. So happy Valencia. I wait for y' all to say that, but y' all didn't say it. Okay, but let go. So Rick Michaels dad said, I'm gonna make you a tape. Just send it in. Made me a tape, sent it in. I got a call, and I was flying up to Stanford, to wwf. Back then, just off of that, within two weeks.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Wow.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

You know what I'm saying? And it just started transpiring. I became the first black NWA champion. And that title was around for 53 years.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I used to love that belt, man.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Did you though? Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Cause I mean, it just was the big gold joint, but it was always synonymous with Ric Flair. To me, it never even looked right on. Nobody else.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Ye.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

One other person that looked right on was Goldberg. But it was WCW by then.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Yes, yes. So, man, I. And never again. You never stop learning. I didn't realize how prestigious that title was. To be the first black NWA champion. Like how younger blacks look at me. Or like, oh, I can do that now. I can. You know what I'm saying? So just living, living, living until where? Now I've excelled into like. I think I'm more popular than I've ever been in my career. Right now. Right now. Wow. Right now. And in the wrestling business, kind of hard as what we call a pop. When you come out, when the lights hitting you. I still get one of the biggest pops. And it feels so everything I reciprocate, I get reciprocated to me. Like a lot of fans tell me, bro, you make me feel. I remember watching you when I'm talking. I got signed in 98, so that's how long I've been wrestling. I've been allowed to continue to do this and still be reinventing myself each and every time. With the Unreal, the Netflix deal, it. It allowed me to reinvent myself again. So life will give you these opportunities, these moments, but we just got to grab them.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

What would you say to people who think the Unreal series is revealing too much?

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, y' all showing too much now.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

You think so? Yes, man. It's about the same as know what. You know what I'm saying? You know the rabbits in the hat, don't you?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, yeah. People know wrestling not real. We just enjoy for the entertainment.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

But a lot of people do think wrestling is real. That's the big they need. J. Jesus, Envy. There's a lot of real aspects of wrestling that surrounded and weaved into it. A lot of things from the Unreal you're gonna see is real. Yeah, a lot of things ain't real. Wrestling is still that. We still give you that illusion. We still. A lot of people believe in these characters.

[DJ Envy]

Yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I just like it, cuz it's Cryptid entertainment that I enjoy.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

You enjoy. I got a Cracked or Truth. I got a Ron killing his Character. I got a K. Cook character. I got a Ron Cena character. John Cena's my older brother. You know what I'm saying? You know damn well. Jess, come on.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Of course I got you.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

But check it out, though. So it's like. I think a lot of people get attached to the character and see themselves living that life. Same as a movie, right?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[Angela Yee]

To the people that do say that, it reveals too much. What positive has come out of revealing those things that people normally don't reveal?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

There's a lot of positives come out of it. You get to get a deep inside look at what's. How the machine works. You know what I'm saying? A lot of us get to see the. The. The. The afterlife of what is created and the glorification of. We don't get to see the sweat, blood, and tears and the. The drama, the dynamic, the. The diabolical that goes on. You never get to see all of.

[DJ Envy]

That or how difficult it is.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

And you still have to execute and go do that. I don't care how you feel or how you look at it. You still got to participate if you're going to be in this game.

[DJ Envy]

Because you could write a plan up and you could write something up, but it doesn't necessarily all have to follow by plan, because y' all jumping from the air, y' all throwing people left and right. I mean, it's. It's.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

That's why. That's why they create that word called audibles, right? Cause we have to, man. Like, I'm sure with y', all, y' all get slid something on the spot. You got to be able to, like, boom. A lot of times we get told, hey, y' all got an extra four minutes. Y' all got an extra five minutes. And we ain't got that designed in that match. Like, oh, so you got to, like, be able to, like, improv. Improv, yeah. Right on the spot.

[Angela Yee]

Have other people on the inside reached out to you like, yo, we happy that you kind of, like, pulling the veil back a little bit.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

A lot of people. A lot of people, like, oh, hit me up. Like, oh, I didn't know it was like that. Oh, I didn't know. You know what I'm saying? So it's. I think it's.

[Angela Yee]

I mean, like, actual, like, fighters.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Fighters, yeah.

[Angela Yee]

Like, people on the inside that would typically want you to kind of keep some of that stuff to the chest, because, you know, what you don't know is how you make your business. Like, have they been like, okay, we glad that you kind of putting some of this out there for people to see.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

I kind of ain't even, like, I don't know. They have, they have. They haven't, like, said it like you said it.

[Angela Yee]

Okay.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

I mean, I kind of like do what the fuck I want to do. Kind of like, you know what I'm saying? Like, I. I have no problem with transparency. That why I just told y' all I used to be in the streets. That why I told y' all this next. So it's like, it's what we do with that. Transparency is what is how I. You know all about me now. Watch how I move, watch my motion. Watch how I make this shit pop and make this happen. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, I think it's appreciation and a respect in seeing that, knowing that and watching it execute.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Comedic timing, too. Like, did that come natural or was it. Was it learned over time?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Natural, okay. Natural, dog.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I could tell you just, yeah, yeah.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Being dark skinned, you know what I'm saying? Okay. It's a superpower if you let it be. We all got superpowers.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So when they came at you with the jokes, you had to freaking.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

I was ready for that ass.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's right. Yes, sir.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

I was ready for that ass. You know what I'm saying? I dropped him in there.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's how you was when you was younger, too. Yeah, around the way.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Like, yeah, Be like, boy, you came to school naked.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

What? No, I didn't do that.

[DJ Envy]

I ain't do that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You dressed in all black.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

No, no, no, don't. Nah. Like they were saying, like, you can stand on your head and your hair still don't touch the ground.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Stand on your head and your way.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

You can stand on your head and your hair still won't touch the ground.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's how bald you are.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

I wanted to know. You ain't got no neck. You gotta lean back to swallow. You know what I'm saying? Type. Keep going, keep going, keep going.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

One more, one more.

[DJ Envy]

She likes, she likes those on him. So I wanted to know, you know, you have a recognizable face now, right? You on wrestler. Has anybody that you stuck up ever came back to be like you, bro? You know when, 2000. That was me that you stuck up.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Nah, you robbed everybody in the dog.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

But when I said it, he was like, oh, no, you ain't had to fight because of that. You know what I'm saying?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Right?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

The almost light skinned brother. You know what I'm saying? Y' all Always gave it to us, dog. But nah, man.

[Angela Yee]

Almost light skinned.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

God bless. Never had that. And I used to keep covering my face up too. He said I covered my face up.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I was smart.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

I wasn't. Yeah. I wasn't dumb. Yeah, I was completely dumb. You know, I was dumb for nothing. Taking advantage of the opportunities I had to do and exploit my talent in the right way.

[DJ Envy]

What's the worst thing that ever happened to you in the ring? Like, that wasn't planned that.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

She was like the worst thing that ever happened to me. Got all these kicked out.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No.

Damn.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Yeah, out kicked out.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Who was it?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Cesaro. Wow. Ah, yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Y' all talking about this ain't real.

Yeah, I mean, people get really hurt.

[DJ Envy]

So what happened in that instance? What's the conversation after? Like, you kick my mouth out?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

No, that's my dog, man. It was cool, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Wow.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Happens, you know what I'm saying? Like, it's. It's not always going to go the way you want it to go. You know what I'm saying? Like audible things happen. You know what I'm saying? Like, can you continue? I can go. Yeah. I can keep going. Keep going, keep going. I kind of like, I think when he kicked him, I didn't have all. It was two goals on the side, so I just pushed him back down. Damn. Yeah, but you gotta think your adrenaline going.

[Angela Yee]

Oh, my God.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

We were in the midst of. You know what I'm saying? Like, the hyper stuff. Like, like you were when you walking out, you was like, you have to get that pop on my face. Look at that. Yeah, right, right.

[DJ Envy]

So they already asked you, yo, can you keep going? And you're like, yeah, yeah.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

You good? You good? Yeah, I'm good. I'm sorry, man. I'm sorry, man. Don't worry about. All right, let's keep going so I won't forget what we got. You know what I'm saying?

[Angela Yee]

How much longer did you have to keep going after that?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

I think we had maybe like four minutes left.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Was it on tv? Was it televised?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Oh, yeah, it was live.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Wow. Jesus.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Wow.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And so I'm this right dumb question, but they paid for that, right? They pay for you?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Yes. Or they take care of us good.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Yeah, they take care of us good.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

All right, good.

Because that, this is still a dangerous game you playing with your life. Like, you know what I mean?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

I haven't been injured. I haven't been injured, but knock on wood, I've lived a. And had a great career, man. Like, you know, neck injuries, both shoulders Ribs, chest, term, hip, patellar, tendon, quad.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And what is the rehabilitation? I mean, the recovery. Like. Like, what is. What is the recovery? Like, what do you do to, like.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Get your ass off that couch?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, yeah.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Get your ass in rehabilitation. Rehab works. Rehab works. Yeah. And just. I never stopped working out since high.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

School because you only walk like you saw. You don't walk like any of this happened. You walked ahead like you was ready to fight them, too.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

I still stretched. I can still do a jump up, a split right there. Like, I. I don't mess around with. With.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

My body health, my mobility, being able to move that wild, like, you know what I'm saying? 54. I can still do backflips, all that, you know what I'm saying? So it's. Yeah, you got to stay tight with it. Right?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

There's only one person I ever thought could die in the ring, and that was goddamn Cactus Jack. Mick Foley.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

That's my dog.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

With his life on the line.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

He did right, man. He did. But that was a dedication to the business, man. That was. That was. That was his lane, you know what I'm saying? If you got your lane running me, I got my lane. And it's. There'll never be another R. True. There'll never be another Ron Killings.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Not all.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

You know what I'm saying? There's never been another shallow man of God. There'll be another dj. There'll be another Jets.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Nope.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

We got our lanes and we got down. We driving that, right?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah. You know, how have you been able to balance the life of a WWE Superstar, you know, as it pertains to, you know. Well, with being a husband and a father, too.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Oh, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

How's that balance with that?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

You have to do it. You have to balance it. You have to have willing participants, loving participants with my music career, you know what I'm saying? So it's like trying to balance all of it is just doing what needs to be done. When I go home, I put that hat on. I'm a dad, I'm a husband, I'm a father. I still love. My daughter's 11. She still sleeping with my wife in the bed. I love that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Love it.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Lazy, you know what I'm saying? So it's like, I love taking my daughters to the bus stop and waiting at the bus stop with them.

[DJ Envy]

Best feeling ever, bro.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Man, come on. Going to their schools, man, and, like, eat lunch with them, and I like that shit. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, I think we make Time. We don't have so much time in the day, but we make time for what we got. Time for what we want to put time in. You know what I'm saying? So you had to balance it, Jeff.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's amazing.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

When I get injured. When I got injured, that's how I was able to do my first country album. I just dropped the White Owl.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Wow. The White Owl.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

The White Owl.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Like the blood.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Not a white owl. The White Owl. I don't do it. I don't know.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What'd you say? The white what?

The White Owl. Yeah, but you talking about, like, tripping.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah. No, I don't smoke. You don't know what you smoke?

[DJ Envy]

He don't smoke.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

He don't smoke. He don't do none of that. Oh, never mind.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Okay.

[DJ Envy]

Never mind.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

He don't smoke.

White owls.

That's what it is.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

You like.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You like reefer paper?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

I do hemp organic. If I. A friend of mine do. I don't do. My friend. My friend. Yeah, there we go. He like them swishes. Gold and silver.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Why you name me White Out?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

The White Out? The White album. Have you heard it yet?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You said the album or white album.

See you. So 704, man, I thought you said white owl, too. Okay. Because I was a previous White Owl smoker, so that's what I thought I heard.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

But yeah, Jazz just called me country.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I love it though. So, yeah. Why is it called the White Album?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Have you heard it yet?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Okay. A friend of mine, Alexander King, was like, oh, man, you should do a country song. I said, a country song. He said, yeah, bro. You country as hell.

[DJ Envy]

You country as hell.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Grew up in Georgia. You lived in Tennessee like your low hanging fruit, your audience, you know what I'm saying? The wrestling world.

[Angela Yee]

Like you all know, this time of year is my recess season. New energy, new plans, new ways to grow my brand. And if you're trying to start 2026 ahead of the game, like really ahead, now is the time to get moving. For me, Shopify has been the platform that keeps my whole merch business tight. As a creator, as a businesswoman, I need my tools to work hard. And Shopify is like having a chief of staff, a personal assistant, and a co founder all in one. And look, I always tell other women building their own brands, especially small, independent black creators, don't overcomplicate it. Whether you're running a side hustle or you're trying to run a full storefront, selling to your community or around the world, Shopify Takes the guesswork out of everything. Shopify also like, my favorite thing about it is they teach you as you grow, you can look up anything, get information on anything, and it's simple. They give you, like easy 1, 2, 3 steps. I used to juggle 10 different logins and apps. Now one platform I manage my store, sell online, sell on social, even tag products right from my phone, wherever I am, and Shopify Sidekick. Listen, you keep hearing all about AI. Let me tell y', all, this AI is a lifesaver. It gives me reports, content, ideas, helps me edit images. It's literally like having a smart assistant in my back pocket guiding me to my next move. So let's be real. It's time to stop thinking and start doing. And there is no better way to do that than Shopify. Use our link shopify.com b e n now to start getting serious about building your future.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Hollywood is buzzing. Legendary director Von Kovac has come out of retirement to remake Wonder man, promising to redefine the superhero genre at a time when fatigue is everywhere. At the center of it all is Simon Williams, a man desperate to be a star but hiding a secret that could end his career. He has superpowers outlawed in Hollywood. Enter Trevor Slattery, the notorious actor From Iron Man 3, and Shang Chi, who take Simon under his wing. Their friendship is hilarious, heartfelt, and the perfect lens for Marvel to comment on Hollywood itself. Starring Emmy award winner Yahya Abdul Mateen II and Oscar winner Ben Kingsley, this eight episode event drops all at once. Don't miss Marvel. Television's Wonder man screaming. January 27th at 6:00pm Pacific Time only on Disney Plus.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Do one country song and thank me later. So I told my producer Jay tracks. I said, hey, man, Alex said we should do a country song. He like, let's do a country album. I'm like, I said, so no hip hop? He said, nah. I said, well, that shit should be called the White Album. And we just laughed at it. And it became so I just did on the radar, man. Like what? Maybe. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it's doing good. Made Billboard charts. It's doing good, man. That's what's up.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We got.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Yeah, yeah. Y' all gotta check it out, Ron. Killing the white out, man. And I got a tour coming up, too.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Oh, you went on tour? Doing country.

Taking the White Album on tour.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Yes. Y' all gotta come pull up. Okay. Y' all gotta come pull up.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

All right.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Is it for real now?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Just for the. Are you stopping in the white parts of the city? What is it who are you looking at?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Why I'm going in all parts of the city.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

All part. Because it's universal, you know, I'm a universal dude. I'm saying I like everybody. And shout out to Nick Khan, man, again, with the Netflix and. And me resigning the deal, man, there's a lot of things that came out of it. Me. Them helped me with my music. Amazing, you know what I'm saying? I'm able to like. And they're helping me promote my music to get it out there, you know what I'm saying? So it's just you don't get to get the wrestling side of Ron Killings or Truth. You get to get the whole aspect, the whole transparency, the music, everything. The White House.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Do you have a relationship with Ric Flair, being that, you know.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Yeah, man. Me flip cool. Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Me, Flair, Charlotte, Ashley. Yeah, we all cool, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Was that one of your inspirations growing up?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Yes, man. Definitely one of my inspiration, man. Just anybody that that was doing it, it's like an inspiration to me, you know what I'm saying? Especially if you're in. In my field, my lane the same way I'm trying to go, you know what I'm saying? Like, it was just. He's a big inspirational part of it.

[DJ Envy]

Were you into wrestling as a kid or was it.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

What? No.

[DJ Envy]

So when your man told you when you got out of jail to try, that's what he was. That was your first real view of it.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

And I thought he wanted me to cut his grass, though. Damn. You know what I'm saying? But yeah, and just sitting there, I was a manager first, and this one, Booker T and Stevie, had just started. He wanted me to manage them. WCW was still in there. And I was like, nah, man, I don't want to wrestle, man. Like, yeah, I'm thinking, like, you know, I'm saying, like, burning the hood. You know how it is. Nobody like, bro, you wrestling, man? Come on. That not knowing. They're closet wrestling fans. Because closet, where we from?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I'm from South Carolina. It wasn't no closet. Everybody used to love wrestling growing up, man.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

A lot of them act like they did. See, now you saying that Charlemagne cool now. Okay, okay, okay.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I didn't know Nitro.

[Angela Yee]

What?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Okay, I was in the streets then. I didn't know. I wasn't watching.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You used to love wrestling, man.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

For real. What? Okay, okay.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So what did you think about wrestling.

[Angela Yee]

When he said it to you? Like, what was your. What was your mind state of, like, wrestling and just the genre in general.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

It Was new to me. It was like, man, you want me to wrestle? Like it's. I never done it before. You know, we with something new, we're allergic to that shit. Anything new or change, we get allergic to it. We get a quick reasons on why we shouldn't. But nah, I have an adapting personality. So I just at that time, again, going back to that, you know, I'm saying the faith of a mustard seed and sticking. Tired of being sick and tired, man, I was ready to do anything. Yeah, anything. I was like, yeah, I'll go do it, man. I'll. I'll try it. He said, it won't cost you no time of dedication. And again, all the people that was willing to help me and teach me and just the way it just moved and I started believing in trust, the process. There are so many things you can gather along the way with the process and use that when you get to certain levels. Because there's levels to this for real. Right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

When you got released a couple of years ago, what was your. What was your immediate reaction emotionally and mentally?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Oh, man. Where I was when I told y' all I was that 25 year old kid not knowing what he wanted to do in life.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Wow.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Not knowing what move to make, not knowing what steps. Is there a wrong step? Is there a right to like this? Right. I was just in a tunnel. That's mentally and emotionally. Because when I found out, I just dropped my daughter off at dance and my son was behind me. I was in the garage smoking. You know what I'm saying? I mean, sweeping. Yes. Yeah. So, yeah. So it was like, damn it. I don't know how if anybody know what it feels like to get fired or get like, you know what I'm saying?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Or get fired four times from radio.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

What I said wasn't fired. What. So you know how it feels to get that call, right? Yeah. They called you too, right?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No.

Damn.

We gotta interview you after your last show. They call you in the office and be like, hey, we moving in another direction.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Okay.

[Angela Yee]

That's how I was in my last job. Okay.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Wow.

[Angela Yee]

Yeah.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Wow. You didn't get to say goodbye?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No. Hell no.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Okay.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's crazy.

[Angela Yee]

So.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But Triple A said you didn't really get. Fine.

[Angela Yee]

I was about to ask that.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Okay, let me ask you this then. I got the call, right? If I got my, my agent working on this end with their agent, I'm just, I, I put the. Stay out of that. Right. Let them handle that thing. I get a call from this side saying we're not going to renew your contract or however it was. You're not going to. So do I come to work? It's Sunday, next Sunday, when my contract was being right. So do I come to work? No, don't come to work. Oh, okay. Am I done now? Yes. There was no flight, no calendar. What do you call that?

[Angela Yee]

Sounds like a fire.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

But I mean, but it's all. I don't know if it's all the same or if it's different. If it ain't. I mean, I guess I'm digitally creative. That would have felt like.

[Angela Yee]

Because he said that you were technically still and you were never not under contract with them. He also said that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And he said. He said he never intended to fire you or push you out. The hope was that by allowing the deal to expire without immediate renewal, it would prompt you to reopen dialogue.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

That's why I said in the top, my agent and they. People was talking and I was staying out of that. But I got called from this person that said, boom. So I wasn't. I wasn't even in the dialogue situation with the dialogue conversation. You know what I'm saying? This is my first time even having an agent handle my business. You know what I'm saying? I've always, for me telling you from Georgia to NWA Wild side isn't that I've always done my own business. This is my first time having to where I stayed out of dialogue. So that's the way I took it. It felt like a firing to me. And that's when I paused, took that moment. I couldn't really. I couldn't figure out how I felt.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Did it feel sudden to you, or was it something you sense might happen?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Nah, it was sudden. It was a negotiation, so I thought. So I was told it was a negotiation. So it was like never for once did I feel bitter, jaded, or anger. I was just at loss for feelings. At loss for words. At loss for emotion. Wow.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

I felt like out of the generations that I've. There's people that like four or five years old and know who I am. Yeah, there's people that's 90 that know who I am. So I've been wrestling for decades. You know what's like, damn, I owe them a thank you. Wow. I was on a ride when it was WWF to wwe. Like, I've. I've been doing things with WWE for years, since the 98s. I've been doing things with them overseas, in the country, everything. I owe them a thanks for the ride. Wow.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Do you Feel like along the way, like somehow the conversation or the dialogue that you were out of was, like, misconstrued. Like, do you feel like maybe an agency got it wrong? Or maybe it was something that. That wasn't told to you?

[Angela Yee]

Like, they said it was about money, that y' all couldn't come close in numbers. That's what Triple H said.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

I don't know what it was all about. I'm just saying. And that's a good thing about unreal, you know what I'm saying? Like, nobody really knows what's what. Only thing we're doing is just. He said this, he said that, he said it. Like. Like, again, I was letting this handle this. I was letting that cook over there on the stove, and this right here started boiling and spilled out. You know what I'm saying? And I got burnt. So it was just like, my main thing, my first thing to do was to show gratitude and appreciation to the longevity I've had. Like, I told you, I'm 54, and I still. I still move like I'm goddamn 20. I make a fact to do that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

For the fact that they say, don't be bitter that it's over. Be. Be happy that it happened.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

It's a blessing. Like I just told you. Because of that, man, so many things have evolved out of that. Over a hundred million people on all social medias, on social media, like, responded to that. That was a testament to not only who I am, what I've done, what I've dedicated my life to, what the fans have invested in themselves in me, the generational families that I have inspired, that I have put my life on the line for that. I have missed anniversaries, birthday parties, graduations. They spoke. And that was the power in power to me. That was the power of people to me. And that's. That's why I'm here now.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes.

Support.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Yeah. You know what I'm saying? And that's what allowed shit, man. That's. I still. That's the best thing that ever happened because, again, I'm more popular than I ever been in my career. And I've been doing this for, like, 27 years.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So when you look back on it now, how do you view that release? You look at it as an ending, a release reset, or just something else.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Total sending to a new beginning? The S on my chest lit up. Like, sometimes we forget who we are.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's the word, you know what I'm saying?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

And we get reminded, you know what I'm saying?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What that said. Did it change how you define your identity beyond being our truth in the wwe.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Bingo. My, my. And. And it's being able to leave something back, leave something with the wwe. This is my last contract. But it's just like, you know how you're on that flight and like, get ready for descent, but the top, the wheels ain't come down yet. This is mine. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, man, it's the ending to a new beginning, you know what I'm saying? Like, now I get to give y' all this real shit, you know what I'm saying? In a sense. But we're gonna have fun while you get it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, I love it.

Do you feel like your contributions to WWE have been fully realized or you still feel there's more of your story.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

To tell, still more detail? Okay. A lot of ain't known yet. A lot of stuff got to be told. A lot of stuff got to be shown. I think in this, with all due respect. You feel me? It's just without due respect. Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I feel like, you know, I don't know when your last year gonna be, but John Cena gotta send off. Yeah, yeah, right, Like.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Yeah, he did. Yeah, yeah, he did. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Like, they should do the same for you.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Yeah, yeah. And that'll be me saying. And damn. Definitely, you know what I'm saying? Saying goodbye to everybody.

[DJ Envy]

But do you want to say goodbye?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

It's not time yet. The Universe spoke. Over 100 million people said that. It's not time yet. And all we got is time, right? So within this time, we'll know when it's time. You like that shit?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

How do you hope fans remember your time with WWE after. After everything you gave to the company when it. When it's all over?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

I hope I've inspired somebody. If it ain't but one person, I hope I've inspired people to like, man, like, from where I came from. Like, if I did it from a pipe dream, like, you can do it. Anybody can do it. And I want. Forget anything else. The funny, this and that's nothing. You can do it. It's just. It's just going out there and applying your self. Use your resources. Use the tools you got. You can't do by yourself sometimes. You know what I'm saying? It's okay to have help. It's okay to have people that's. That's willing to goddamn prepare you and get up under you and be that stability. But believe in your motherfucking self. And if I did it you can do it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Your story alone is inspiration to a lot of people for sure. Just what you sat here and told me. I didn't know half that stuff about you. When you told, like from the past, like, you know, meeting your guy in halfway house, you know. You know, just you not even starting to wrestle, as you know, you weren't into it when you were younger. You got into it later. I thought it was something that you had been into since a kid.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

I wish. Yeah, I just. It's adapting. Always know you don't have to. If that road ain't getting you where you want to go. Get off us. Make a new track we can make happen. We can. We can speak into existence. I did last if I've spoken, man, like, I've. You don't know how many times I've Google and seen and watch your shows. You know how many times I've watched you do your. How many times I watch you do your. Like, a lot of things we speak and say this, that should have come to pass. And then we'd be like, damn, this deja vu.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

This universe working in your favor, but we just got to apply ourselves.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Did John Cena's retirement make you start looking at your own, you know, wrestling mortality, like, okay, coming to an end.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

His retirement gave me ideas. And I know every ride come to a stop, right? Everything got come to a stop, but it's how it comes to a stop, you know what I'm saying? It's what it does along the way to that stop, you know what I'm saying? For that stop, to be remembered and be appreciated and be like, yeah, right. You know what I'm saying? Get your ass off. You know what I'm saying? But, yeah, man, his. His. His retirement did a lot for me. And again, shout out to John, man, I learned a lot from him. Yeah. He's one of the ones that told me one hill at a time, and I take that cold, you know what I'm saying? To heart with me. He's helped me a lot. Major respect. Shout out to John.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

He pushed. He pushed for you to be. Be like a main event. All right?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Yeah, he pushed me. John always had my back on. On that aspect of it, man. I remember when he came to me and said, you figured it out. And, like, I just. Do I be me now? Yeah, I've always been me. I think that's what makes the art truth, my character so relatable to people. Yeah, I make mistakes. Yeah. I smoke cigarettes. Yeah, I used to smoke cigarettes. Yeah. I'LL do like. Like, oh, shit. I do that, too. Isn't that like, man, my grandma, my granddad, I remember being with this and that. I get told that's way more times than I get told, oh, yeah, you can still go. But you made me feel.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It's the relatability. Yeah, yeah. They see their self in you.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah. That's amazing. Can you tell us anything about the Royal Rumble coming up on January 31st in Saudi Arabia?

Yeah.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Yeah. Y' all haven't been to Saudi, right?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No, I haven't.

[Angela Yee]

They probably.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

They keep talking to me about going.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

They say that's you gotta go adult.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

They say they spending crazy money.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

For real.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I was in Dubai a few years ago, and this lady that was dead, I guess she represented the sports entertainment over there. She was like, charlie, man, we want to get you to Saudi Arabia. And Anthony Anderson had just came back, and he was there, and they were saying this hella money up.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Damn.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's what's up.

[Angela Yee]

You laughing. Your numbers look good over there, huh?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Right?

[Angela Yee]

Right.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Money. Good touc.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Yeah, man. It's good, man. Not only that, man, like, again, I've been with WWE since, what, 98. I've been going to Saudi since then. So it's like, man, Afghanistan, Turkey, Kuwait, I've been. Saudi was one of the first places, man, like, to have to go to Saudi and have them singing my ring music cheering me. That's crazy. Yeah. There are sorry people that, well, last time I've been to Saudi that buy my music and play my music when they come to the signings. That's like, so whole different country, like. And it's our first Royal Rumble. We will have there. Wow. First time ever happened there. And Saudi crowd, man, is like, they amp lit. They be lit now. They be lit. And it's fun, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's what's up.

[DJ Envy]

Well, we appreciate you for joining us. Definitely. Check out Truth, Netflix Unreal Season 2. You can check it out. You can see behind the scenes. You can see. They said there was one scene where I. I guess one of the wrestlers hit somebody that was in the crowd and they were yelling, hey, he's the crowd. They was like, no, he's part of it, too. Was that part of it?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

I don't know that one. That's somebody know about. Oh, all right.

[DJ Envy]

That's what the producer told me.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

They didn't e me on that one. Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know what I'm saying?

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

My name true. I tell the truth, brother. Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

Thank you so much.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

It's all true.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Go get that white album, man.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Get that white album. Appreciate it. Sh.

[DJ Envy]

It's all true. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Hold up.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club.

[R-Truth (Ron Killings)]

Y' all finished or y'. All.

[Angela Yee]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.