In a revealing interview with Chris Van Vliet, WWE superstar R-Truth shared the incredible story of his wrestling career journey, from his troubled beginnings to becoming one of wrestling’s most beloved entertainers. His path to success features pivotal moments that nearly saw him quit the business entirely.
The Road Dogg Connection
R-Truth credits WWE Hall of Famer Road Dogg (Brian James) with saving his wrestling career when he was on the verge of quitting.
“I was having issues at home, man. I was discouraged. I felt like a failure. I was ready to quit. Road Dogg and his wife was in Memphis on vacation and they came to the TV taping… By the time I got back to the locker room, Road Dogg was back there.”
The chance encounter changed everything when Road Dogg offered him a partnership opportunity.
“He was like, ‘I want you to be my tag team partner.’ I’m like, ‘Dog, I’m going to quit, man.’ He really ripped into me good. He said, ‘If you can stake it out for three more months, I have you up there on TV with me.'”
Within two months, R-Truth was called up to WWF television as K-Kwik, partnering with Road Dogg. This fortuitous meeting completely altered his career trajectory.
Breaking Barriers as NWA Champion
One of the most significant moments in R-Truth’s career was becoming the first Black NWA World Heavyweight Champion, a moment facilitated by Jerry Jarrett.
“Jerry Jarrett sat me down in the municipal auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, and he explained to me the history of professional wrestling for African-American people, for Black Americans in the business and how prestigious this would be. He told me, ‘We want you to be our first Black American champion because of your charisma, your talent, and you have a story to tell.'”
This groundbreaking achievement came during his time with TNA Wrestling (now IMPACT Wrestling), where he performed after his initial WWE departure.
Seizing Moments
R-Truth’s philosophy on opportunity has guided his journey through wrestling’s ups and downs.
“We all wait for the right time, right? There’s no such thing as the right time. We all get moments in life to grab whatever we can when we can.”
This mindset helped him through multiple career phases, including his return to WWE with the help of Randy Orton and Umaga, who encouraged him to rejoin the company in 2008.
R-Truth’s perseverance through challenges—including a recent quad tendon tear and serious MRSA infection that nearly cost him his leg—demonstrates the resilience that has defined his remarkable career.