After 17 continuous years with WWE, R-Truth’s departure from the company has stirred a range of reactions across the wrestling world. But according to Teddy Long, the former 24/7 Champion is in good spirits about his exit. Speaking on his Road Trip After Hours podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer shared personal insight into R-Truth’s mindset following the news.
R-Truth Remains Positive After WWE Exit
Teddy Long revealed that he spoke directly with R-Truth following the announcement and came away confident that the veteran performer was in a good place. “I talked to Truth, and he’s happy with it,” Long said. “I saw his statement that he made after the release. So you know, it’s like this with me. If Truth is happy, I love it.”
Long made it clear that there was no need to debate the release or dwell on the past, believing that everything happens for a reason. “Ain’t no going back and forth about this release, because talking back and forth or making an argument out of it, that ain’t bringing them back. God does things for a reason. This may be the best thing to ever happen to him,” he added.
R-Truth’s Departure Echoes Teddy Long’s Own WWE Journey
Teddy Long drew a personal comparison between R-Truth’s departure and his own experience with WWE, particularly how his career pivoted after being let go. He referenced a decision made by former WWE executive John Laurinaitis, saying, “What John Laurinaitis did to me was the best thing that could have happened to me.”
However, Long’s reflections on Laurinaitis weren’t all positive. In a 2023 episode of The Wrestling Time Machine, he spoke candidly about his real-life dislike for the former WWE Head of Talent Relations:
“Well, see, [on-air segments between us] were good because he didn’t know I hated him in real life. Yeah, but he didn’t know it. I mean, I have no respect for a man who tried to stop me from feeding my family. A guy that hated me for no reason. I’d never done nothing to him, and to come in my face and laugh and grin, like, it’s unreal, man.
And then, you know, the other thing too, I had the opportunity to be with one of the referees on the road together, and I’ll leave the name out, but he’d come and told me what exactly he was making. As a referee, he was making more money than me, and I’m the General Manager running this company. That was all John Laurinaitis’ deal.
Like I told you, man, him and Mark Carrano are the two worst people on the planet.”
Also Read: WWE Reportedly Offered R-Truth Another Contract
