Did They Waste R-Truth?

[romanstylesiii]

His 10+ WWE run has been impressive, but anyone who saw his early TNA stuff know how well rounded of a performer he is. He's been kinda pigeonholed in a comedy spot for like 7 years now.

I am sure he is making great money in his current role, but as a fan, I am always kinda sad he really only does this comedy stuff

[Toilet Paper Roll]

For better or worse he’s been pretty memorable, had a couple very brief stints near the top of the card, won some belts and done better than the majority of the guys who’ve ever been with the company.

[Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby]

Honestly, his being kept prominent but not at the top of the card has probably led to him having a more memorable career. Without accounting for pay, I'd rather have his career than Randy Orton's.

[avenger]

He couldn't get into Canada for years, because of drug dealing convictions prior to his wrestling career. He had to miss a week of TV when he was fueding for the title, as a result.

[Deleted]

Is this man really the head of the Kwik-E-Mart?

[Magic knows Black Lives Matter]

Nah. If anything, his transition into a comedy character probably prolonged his career by a significant amount. He’s not taking bumps all the time and he’s still featured regularly, what more could you want?

[Hypnosis]

Aug 14, 2020 14:06:01 GMT -5 Magic knows Black Lives Matter said:

Nah. If anything, his transition into a comedy character probably prolonged his career by a significant amount. He’s not taking bumps all the time and he’s still featured regularly, what more could you want?

Just get rid of the 24/7 Title, or at least not have it always go back to him/end in roll-up finishes.

[Zombie Mod]

nah, he was 36ish when they re-signed him in 2008 they've managed to give him more time at the tail end of his career than he would have had if he'd remained as serious wrestler #54986

[Bad Moon]

I feel like if I was R-Truth and pushing 50 I would probably be glad to be doing some easy comedy rather than taking bumps from Seth Rollins in the main event.

[Main Event Mark]

He's the most entertaining entertainer in sports entertainment.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

People need to stop thinking of having a decade-plus career as a respected midcard veteran who will have a job as long as they still have knees as being 'wasted.'

Not everybody needs, or wants to be a main eventer. Quite apart from which, Truth has main evented a little, and as a former NWA champion is part of a title lineage that many multi-time heavyweight champions in WWE cannot say they are part of, whether they were Undisputed, Universal or WWE champions.

Was R-Truth wasted because he didn't main event much but still has his health now? Or was Austin wasted because they rode him so hard that he destroyed his body and retired in his damn 30s, when for wrestling 2020 you barely reach your prime until 40 these days?

[eJm]

Aug 14, 2020 16:58:26 GMT -5 "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay said:

People need to stop thinking of having a decade-plus career as a respected midcard veteran who will have a job as long as they still have knees as being 'wasted.'

Not everybody needs, or wants to be a main eventer. Quite apart from which, Truth has main evented a little, and as a former NWA champion is part of a title lineage that many multi-time heavyweight champions in WWE cannot say they are part of, whether they were Undisputed, Universal or WWE champions.

Was R-Truth wasted because he didn't main event much but still has his health now? Or was Austin wasted because they rode him so hard that he destroyed his body and retired in his damn 30s, when for wrestling 2020 you barely reach your prime until 40 these days?

I will say part of that is on the company constantly repeating the quote of “If you don’t want to be Champion, why are you here?” which is the equivalent of saying “Hey, if you’re not here to be CEO of the company, why are you here?!” in any other job when there is zero problem with just being an employee for years.

[Fake Jesus]

Aug 14, 2020 16:58:26 GMT -5 "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay said:

People need to stop thinking of having a decade-plus career as a respected midcard veteran who will have a job as long as they still have knees as being 'wasted.'

Not everybody needs, or wants to be a main eventer. Quite apart from which, Truth has main evented a little, and as a former NWA champion is part of a title lineage that many multi-time heavyweight champions in WWE cannot say they are part of, whether they were Undisputed, Universal or WWE champions.

Was R-Truth wasted because he didn't main event much but still has his health now? Or was Austin wasted because they rode him so hard that he destroyed his body and retired in his damn 30s, when for wrestling 2020 you barely reach your prime until 40 these days?

The idea isn't that R-Truth shouldn't be doing what he's doing now, but like Mark Henry they could've got a solid year or two of ME/upper midcard threat out of him before cycling him back down. Instead his main event run only lasted a couple of months

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

Aug 14, 2020 17:23:00 GMT -5 Fake Jesus said:

Aug 14, 2020 16:58:26 GMT -5 "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay said:

People need to stop thinking of having a decade-plus career as a respected midcard veteran who will have a job as long as they still have knees as being 'wasted.'

Not everybody needs, or wants to be a main eventer. Quite apart from which, Truth has main evented a little, and as a former NWA champion is part of a title lineage that many multi-time heavyweight champions in WWE cannot say they are part of, whether they were Undisputed, Universal or WWE champions.

Was R-Truth wasted because he didn't main event much but still has his health now? Or was Austin wasted because they rode him so hard that he destroyed his body and retired in his damn 30s, when for wrestling 2020 you barely reach your prime until 40 these days?

The idea isn't that R-Truth shouldn't be doing what he's doing now, but like Mark Henry they could've got a solid year or two of ME/upper midcard threat out of him before cycling him back down. Instead his main event run only lasted a couple of months

In fairness, the buyrate was catastrophic, wasn't it?

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

Aug 14, 2020 17:28:17 GMT -5 "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay said:

In fairness, the buyrate was catastrophic, wasn't it?

Getting suspended when he was still being pushed at the top of the card didn't help either. As was the case with Regal, when you're new to being booked in main events and you drop the ball like that, second chances are hard to come by.

[Deleted]

I’ll actually disagree with the majority and say yes but only for one specific moment. He should have won the title from Cena in his one chance.

Would have loved to see that character have the belt & what would happen.

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

Aug 15, 2020 3:37:08 GMT -5 UN PLOMBIER NIGHTMARE #blm said:

I’ll actually disagree with the majority and say yes but only for one specific moment. He should have won the title from Cena in his one chance.

Would have loved to see that character have the belt & what would happen.

I’d have been fascinated to see this would have affected the “pipebomb” stuff with Punk that started literally a handful of days later. I don’t think it has the same emotional resonance as either a non-title feud with Cena or a title feud with Truth.

[rnrk supports BLM]

Aug 14, 2020 17:28:17 GMT -5 "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay said:

Aug 14, 2020 17:23:00 GMT -5 Fake Jesus said:

The idea isn't that R-Truth shouldn't be doing what he's doing now, but like Mark Henry they could've got a solid year or two of ME/upper midcard threat out of him before cycling him back down. Instead his main event run only lasted a couple of months

In fairness, the buyrate was catastrophic, wasn't it?

If you mean Capitol Punishment, the sole PPV headlined by R-Truth in a singles match, then no, it wasn't. It was in line with the other B-level PPVs that year, up from Cena vs Miz the month before, and actually outperformed Triple H vs Punk a couple months later in worldwide buys.

[Ben Wyatt]

Aug 14, 2020 16:58:26 GMT -5 "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay said:

People need to stop thinking of having a decade-plus career as a respected midcard veteran who will have a job as long as they still have knees as being 'wasted.'

Not everybody needs, or wants to be a main eventer. Quite apart from which, Truth has main evented a little, and as a former NWA champion is part of a title lineage that many multi-time heavyweight champions in WWE cannot say they are part of, whether they were Undisputed, Universal or WWE champions.

Was R-Truth wasted because he didn't main event much but still has his health now? Or was Austin wasted because they rode him so hard that he destroyed his body and retired in his damn 30s, when for wrestling 2020 you barely reach your prime until 40 these days?

This. In the grand scheme of things, a lot of guys should be happy to have Truths career. He's been constantly on TV with something to do for his entire run, won some titles and if he retired tomorrow, is in great shape physically and financially to enjoy a normal post wrestling life.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

Aug 15, 2020 4:51:10 GMT -5 rnrk supports BLM said:

Aug 14, 2020 17:28:17 GMT -5 "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay said:

In fairness, the buyrate was catastrophic, wasn't it?

If you mean Capitol Punishment, the sole PPV headlined by R-Truth in a singles match, then no, it wasn't. It was in line with the other B-level PPVs that year, up from Cena vs Miz the month before, and actually outperformed Triple H vs Punk a couple months later in worldwide buys.

I had no idea! Thanks for the correction.