R-Truth’s WWE Salary Revealed as More Details Emerge on Shocking Release

R-Truth’s long-standing association with WWE will shortly be coming to an end after he announced his exit from the promotion on social media. In a candid post, the 53-year-old confirmed on Sunday:

“I’m 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.”

The news was met with disbelief by both WWE fans and Superstars alike. All were dumbfounded as they tried to work out the reasoning behind the company’s decision not to retain such a beloved performer.

The real-life Ron Killings had a brief stint in WWE from 1999 until 2001, before being let go and linking up with TNA Wrestling, where he became NWA World Heavyweight Champion. WWE were clearly impressed by Killings’ work in TNA, as they re-signed him in 2008 to work under the ring name ‘R-Truth’. Over the next 17 years, he would become one of the most popular Superstars on the roster, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

R-Truth’s WWE career statistics (as of 02/06/2025)

Total number of matches
1511

Total number of wins
901 (59.6%)

Total number of losses
597 (39.5%)

Total number of draws
13 (0.9%)

As details continue to emerge behind the reasons for his departure, Wrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer shed some light on how the decision was reached. The veteran journalist indicated that the final call on who to release when WWE’s parent company, TKO, decides to cut talent costs rests with Chief Content Officer, Paul ‘Triple H’.

Reacting to the news that WWE had cut Truth and fellow veteran Superstar, Carlito, Meltzer explained [via ITR Wrestling]:

“There’s numbers. They’re looking at the numbers, and they’re looking at ‘how many do we have to cut’, or ‘how much money do we have to cut?’ And those were the picks [R-Truth and Carlito]. Those were the Levesque picks, and that’s what it is.”

Reports suggest that a high annual salary played a major role in the release of former Universal Champion Braun Strowman last month – and the same seemingly applies to R-Truth. Meltzer pointed out that he expects a number of new arrivals on the main roster in the coming months and so room needed to be made in the budgets to accomodate them. Just how much money, though, was R-Truth costing WWE every year?

R-Truth was Earning Well Above the Minimum Main Roster WWE Salary

Popular star had been with the company since 2008

Credit: WWE
Credit: WWE

Per reports, the 53-time 24/7 Champion earned $550,000 annually in WWE. That sum is significantly above the minimum salary for a main roster Superstar, which sits at $350,000 a year. Although Truth wrestled John Cena on the most recent edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event, he wasn’t a fixture on television. That fact likely played a big role in convincing Triple H that the company could do without the charismatic veteran.

Despite his release, Truth’s long WWE stint is believed to have set him up well financially. According to Sportskeeda, he has an estimated net worth of $3 million

Much of this figure is made up of money saved from his in-ring earnings, but a sizable sum can be attributed to WWE merchandise royalties, including the successful 2K video games series, but his work as a rapper has also boosted his bank balance.

As Truth’s WWE contract has expired, he will not be subject to the typical 90-day non-compete clause associated with most main roster departures. He is expected to be a man in demand as soon as his WWE deal officially comes to an end.