WWE: Why R-Truth Winning The US Title Was Awesome

R-Truth has been one of WWE’s most hilarious characters over the past decade, and he’s turned back the clock (or did he ever actually age?) recently in his work with Carmella. So it was awesome to see Truth hold the United States Championship again after picking up back-to-back fluke victories.

Carmella and R-Truth earned the No. 30 spots in the Royal Rumble after winning WWE‘s Mixed Match Challenge Season 2, and while the tournament was mired in injuries, The Fabulous Truth were a perfect choice to win it all; their “vacation” to Stamford, Connecticut – complete with green screen trips that felt like a personal attack to all Clevelanders – sealed this.

Unfortunately, while Truth and Mella found another way to entertain the WWE Universe on their vacation, they weren’t able to capitalize on their Royal Rumble advantage. (Then again, almost nobody wins from the No. 30 spot, so the vacation was always going to be the better reward…)

Truth got the worst of it, too, getting absolutely blasted on the entrance ramp by Nia Jax, who stole the show from the rest of the men in the Rumble, even eliminating the “Heart” of SmackDown Live, Mustafa Ali.

Upset at this turn in events, Truth aired his grievances and ended up getting a United States Championship match two days later on SmackDown Live. Against all the odds, Truth rolled up Shinsuke Nakamura, who kicked out after a “confused” Mike Chioda counted three, and beat the wrestling icon for the US Title. Nakamura, of course, won the US Title at the Rumble on the kick-off show against Rusev.

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The win was so sudden (and fluky) that Truth didn’t even realize he won until Chioda informed him that Nakamura’s shoulders were down at three. But the celebration didn’t last long, as Rusev, upset with the way his title reign ended at Royal Rumble, emerged to challenge Truth to a match. Truth accepted…and won with another roll-up, countering Rusev into a pinning predicament from out of nowhere.

WWE has so many mid-carders cast in comedic roles, but many of them have trouble getting on television. Raw is three hours long, yet we’ve seen no development or time devoted to the likes of No Way Jose. Even Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins’s reunion, which should be a big deal in the Raw Tag Team Division, hasn’t been given more attention or backstage skits; they were simply thrown into a quick match.

But Truth and Carmella have managed to be an important part of SmackDown weekly. They’ve been an enjoyable part of a show that features some of the most acclaimed in-ring competitors in the world, such as WWE Champion Daniel Bryan and SmackDown Women’s Champion Asuka.

R-Truth, like he did years ago when he was afraid of ladders or teaming up with The Miz, consistently finds a way to make the small moments feel awesome. Even his reaction to beating Nakamura was so perfectly “Truth”; it’d be just like him to be unaware that he won a title match.

Surprise wins don’t happen often in WWE, and when they do, they need to truly feel shocking. Truth upsetting Nakamura and Rusev in the same night definitely qualifies as a shock. And while some fans were upset with the US Title moving around that much, it’s, well, not that serious.

The line “it’s not that serious” pretty much encapsulates R-Truth. He is one of the few characters in WWE who makes pro wrestling feel authentically silly, and that’s probably why so many fans of all ages and backgrounds gravitate towards his work. Harmless fun is an escape, and it’s infectious; even the McMahons couldn’t resist joining in on Truth and Mella’s dance break.

He isn’t everyone’s favorite, but he is for people like me, who want to see good-natured wackiness in their weekly wrestling show – and there’s nothing wrong with those comedy characters winning once in a while to remind the WWE Universe that they are also capable of a title reign.

Of course, R-Truth’s United States Championship reign, which brings him full circle after he last won the title almost nine years ago, isn’t meant to last. He and Carmella could feud with Andrade and Zelina Vega, passing the title to Andrade, who has started 2019 more brightly than any other male wrestler.

But, for now, let’s enjoy how awesome it was to see a long-time veteran who has been through it all, including being a complete afterthought on the three-hour Raw after the brand split, getting a title reign on the strength of being different from everyone else on the show. Truth is basically an institution in WWE, and, yes, the 47-year-old hasn’t aged one bit physically, in the ring, or even as a comedy character.

But, for now, let’s enjoy how awesome it was to see a long-time veteran – and two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion – who has been through it all, including being a complete afterthought on the three-hour Raw after the brand split, getting a title reign on the strength of being different from everyone else on the show. Truth is basically an institution in WWE, and, yes, the 47-year-old hasn’t aged one bit physically, in the ring, or even as a comedy character.