Remember just a few months ago when Ron Killings was one of the biggest stories going on in professional wrestling? WWE made the decision to cut ties with the performer, sending the community into a spiral of support for the former NWA Worlds Champion. Fast forward just a few weeks and not only has his momentum stopped, it seemed like everything about the moment has been forgotten.
On the latest episode of WWE SmackDown, Ron Killings showed up for a brief moment. He and John Cena played off the "childhood hero" story that has lasted the last few years. And with a click of his heels, Ron Killings was once again R-Truth, the shucking and jiving performer meant to make everyone laugh. Fans were critical of the sudden character change, as they should be. WWE had the chance to do something special with Ron Killings, especially as John Cena continues down the path to retirement in just a few months.
Ron Killings is yet another example of Triple H not wanting to book strong Black men on the main roster
Many of the complaints about Ron Killings and the situation surrounding him point toward Triple H not wanting to give Black men prominent positions on the main roster. There was something special in the way fans rallied aournd Killings and his moment of need. WWE responded, only because the company felt the need to, but that response was truly for naught because the company did not take that moment to build to something more, instead the Killings has been slotted in a position that means nothing, an afterthought.
Think about what could have been done. Killings could have been one of Cena's biggest threats heading to his retirement. Killings could have been a true threat to any midcard champion. The company could have even sent him to WWE NXT where he would have a great story against someone like Trick Williams. There was something there with Killings and none of that momentum was capitalized upon.
WWE continues to miss big opportunities to tell important stories. This situation with Ron Killings is not anything none. In fact, it is a tiring situation in a continued trend of the company, specifically its Chief Content Officer failing to leverage Black men on the main roster.