WWE Releases Veterans R-Truth And Carlito
Company cuts ties with longtime superstars, with Truth logging 17 years in second stint.
The main roster bloodletting continued this weekend, as WWE released two popular wrestlers, choosing to not renew their expiring contracts.
R-Truth and Carlito separately confirmed via X (formerly Twitter) that WWE informed each of them that the company would not extend their deals, effectively ending their tenure with sports entertainment juggernaut.
Im sorry to inform you all. I just got released from WWE. I want to thank WWE for the ride, but MOSTLY I want to thank each and EVERYONE OF YOU who was along for the ride, Thank you for all the love, support, and appreciation you have given me over the years. Thank you ??— Ron Killings (@RonKillings) June 1, 2025
In his X post, Carlito noted that his contract "is up in 2 weeks. It will not be renewed." Fightful Select reported that Truth was contacted by a talent relations worker this past weekend and informed that his contract would not be extended. Those Fightful contacted said Truth was told he hadn't been in trouble or done anything wrong.
Truth, 53, was viewed by many as a WWE lifer, having spent the past 17 years with the company in addition to a two-year run during the Attitude Era. Throughout his tenure, Truth filled a variety of roles, but he consistently served as a comic relief character for the past decade-plus, creating an imaginary friend Little Jimmy, defending and regaining the 24/7 Championship repeatedly, believing he was a member of the Judgment Day, and generally mixing up and confusing superstars backstage.
Truth won the Raw (now World) Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 40 alongside The Miz, finally getting his WrestleMania moment. Most recently, he tried to confront his "childhood hero" John Cena in a match at Saturday Night's Main Event last weekend.
Fightful noted that the reaction from the roster was "unlike anything we've covered," and that the news was met with "complete shock and disbelief, with one top talent calling it 'total nonsense.' " Another talent called this regime "ruthless," according to Fightful, with the outlet adding that this was "by far the most criticized and universally disliked departure [they've] covered."
It's worth adding that Truth had one of the top-selling WWE shirts in recent weeks with the "Ron Cena" shirt, according to Fightful.
Carlito wrestled for WWE throughout the 2000s before being released in 2010. He returned at Backlash 2023 to help Bad Bunny defeat Damian Priest, joining the LWO essentially as an affiliate member before returning to the company full time that October. Shortly after WrestleMania 40, Carlito turned on the LWO and joined the Judgment Day after being drafted to Raw. He served mainly as cannon fodder and comic relief with the stable.
The news follows a series of releases last month, including main roster talent Braun Strowman, Dakota Kai, Katana Chance, Kayden Carter, Shayna Baszler and Shotzi, along with several NXT wrestlers. WWE also released more than a dozen main roster talent prior to WrestleMania 41.