R-Truth has become the first person tied to WWE or ESPN to publicly respond to the credential denial that kept ESPN combat sports reporter Andreas Hale from covering WrestleMania 42 this weekend in Las Vegas.
Hale revealed Saturday afternoon on X that WWE had blocked his access to the event, posting that neither he nor ESPN had been given a reason. "I will not be covering #WrestleMania for ESPN," Hale wrote. "WWE denied my credentials and blocked my access. Neither I nor ESPN has been told why. You can speculate on the reasons, but if you want answers, ask WWE."
On Sunday, Ron Killings offered an answer Hale probably was not looking for. Responding directly on social media, the WWE Tag Team Champion wrote, "Cause you a bitch ass That's why… I said what I said."
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It's worth noting that X user Jay Squidz uncovered that Hale has been a longstanding, consistent R-Truth hater dating back over a decade.
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First Public Response From the WWE Side
R-Truth's reply stands out because WWE has not issued any official statement on the credential denial, and ESPN has stayed silent as well. No executive, broadcaster, or on-screen talent had commented publicly until Killings posted his response.
Hale has been one of ESPN's primary reporters covering WWE since the network's $1.6 billion, five-year rights deal launched with Wrestlepalooza last September. His C grade review of that debut premium live event reportedly angered WWE and parent company TKO, and multiple outlets have reported that WWE pressured ESPN to drop letter grades from its coverage entirely. ESPN stopped grading WWE shows after Crown Jewel in October.
Hale has also been a lead reporter on the Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon, including a recent story on Grant's 40-page affidavit containing additional allegations against the former WWE chairman and ex-head of talent relations John Laurinaitis.
WrestleMania 42 Fallout Continues
WrestleMania 42 runs Saturday and Sunday from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with coverage streaming on ESPN Unlimited as part of WWE's domestic rights deal. The first hour of each night also airs on ESPN's linear channels.
For more on how the story started, see our earlier coverage of WWE blocking Hale from WrestleMania 42 coverage.
