R-Truth Situation On WWE Unreal Ruined By Outside Factors
In Season 2 of WWE Unreal, behind-the-scenes details surrounding R-Truth’s departure and eventual return were explored.
Triple H revealed that WWE never intended to release R-Truth. Instead, the company was using a negotiation tactic, with the goal of reaching a contract agreement that both sides would be comfortable with. However, when R-Truth received the news, he believed he had been fired and immediately announced it on social media.
Eric Bischoff Comments On R-Truth’s WWE Contract Situation
Veteran Eric Bischoff recently weighed in on the controversy surrounding R-Truth and his WWE contract negotiations on the latest episode of his 83 Weeks podcast. Bischoff stated that he believes both Triple H and R-Truth are being truthful in their accounts of what happened.
According to Bischoff, the situation was ultimately ruined by an outside factor, specifically, R-Truth’s agent, who he believes played a role in escalating and complicating the negotiation process:
“Things are going to get effed up when you get your agents involved. Ick, it’s unfortunate. I believe Paul [Triple H] in this case. I don’t dog in a hunt. It’s not like Paul and I are friends.
I mean we’re friendly, right? But we don’t hang out, I don’t get a Christmas card, none of that stuff. But I absolutely believe him, and I believe him because similar things have happened to me in the past.
When you’re dealing with agents, you’re in a negotiation. It sounds to me like they had to make a point. Here’s the point: ‘We’re not going to renew your contract at the current rate. We can’t afford you,’ which is a valid point.
At some point, you’ve just got to look at talent, how often you use them, how you can use them, when you can use them, and all that. The audience’s reaction to them. There’s ways to kind of get a feel for that, right?
“And sometimes when you got an older talent, you’re just not using them as much, you can’t afford to pay him as much. It’s just a fact of life. And I’m sure because there’s an agent involved, we’re going to play hardball. They played hardball — Ron’s agent, I’m guessing.
And they’re playing hardball with a guy from Hollywood who negotiates deals, massive deals. That was stupid as an agent for overshooting. And they probably called their bluff, and that’s where things fell apart.
Because Ron probably got the word, as he said — I believe Ron too. There’s no reason for him to twist that stuff around. I could see how it happened. It’s really unfortunate.”