John Cena mocks R-Truth's WWE exit & more: 3 Major stars who have reacted to the shock release at WWE shows

The WWE Universe was left stunned by the shocking news of R-Truth being let go by the company. R-Truth, whose blend of comedic brilliance and charisma made him one of the most beloved performers of the modern era, had long been a fan favorite and locker room staple.

While no official statement has been made by WWE, multiple reports suggest that failed contract renegotiations—possibly tied to TKO’s cost-cutting strategy—led to the sudden split. Rumors claim that R-Truth refused to take a pay cut, standing firm on his value to the company.

Since then, social media has been flooded with support. WWE's Instagram posts are flooded with "#WeWantTruth" comments, and live audiences have broken into spontaneous “We Want Truth” chants during RAW and SmackDown this week.

While WWE has yet to formally address his impending departure on television, three major stars have acknowledged the situation in their unique ways, ranging from subtle nods to in-ring jabs.

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#3. Rhea Ripley pays tribute to R-Truth with a T-shirt backstage on RAW

Former Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley made a quiet but powerful show of solidarity with her (sort of) former Judgment Day brethren: R-Truth, wearing his T-shirt on Monday Night RAW this week. Due to the reported directions about talents wearing his merch or anything referencing him on TV, she was seen without the shirt and in a different top while on TV, though.

The record-setting 24/7 Champion had developed a hilarious and endearing dynamic with The Judgment Day last year, becoming an unofficial and unwanted mascot of sorts for the group. While Ripley and Truth have long since been completely out of the faction, this moment showed just how much Truth’s presence is missed by his colleagues, especially those who had the pleasure of working with him.

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#2. CM Punk implies solidarity with R-Truth with his trademark sarcasm

CM Punk never misses a chance to engage meaningfully with fans while also taking a stand for what he believes in. He also has a way of going about things that is often termed rebellious, and yet he has a witty way of doing so. This week on RAW was no different.

Following the show, Punk grabbed a mic and addressed the live crowd that was chanting for the man with the most title wins in WWE history in classic tongue-in-cheek fashion. “How dare you chant for someone that’s not here?” he said, referencing how crowds famously chanted his name for nearly a decade during his WWE hiatus as well.

Equal parts sarcastic, meta, and respectful in that strange, very Punk way, The Voice of The Voiceless continues to live by that moniker. Leave it up to CM Punk to also put himself over by saying even just one line any chance he gets!

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#1. John Cena directly mocks R-Truth’s release on SmackDown

In the closing moments of SmackDown last night, John Cena and Logan Paul brutalized Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso, leading to loud “We Want Truth” chants from the Bakersfield crowd. This was not just the loudest and most prominent instance, as it also felt especially pointed, given R-Truth’s match against Cena at Saturday Night’s Main Event just weeks ago.

It also elicited not just the only R-Truth mention by talent on RAW or SmackDown, but perhaps the funniest and yet most heartbreaking one possible. As the crowd loudly chanted, "We Want Truth," Cena, never one to let a moment pass, responded, "You can’t handle the Truth!" The line—an iconic quote from Jack Nicholson's character Colonel Jessup in A Few Good Men—was clearly aimed at the crowd and R-Truth himself.

Funnily enough, Jessup said this in response to Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) demanding, "I want the Truth!" Cena's reference also brought to mind how he and JBL enacted the iconic courtroom scene in promotional parody leading up to WrestleMania 21 in Los Angeles, except The Last Real Champion parodied the legendary Tom Cruise in that instance.

Cena continued, saying, “Our Truth is right here, staring you right in the face,” a pun, of course, on "R-Truth." Cena's comic timing and delivery continue to show up time and again, although whether that enhances or diminishes his heel character is a matter of debate. Nevertheless, for someone adamant on denying it, John Cena continues to be a living, breathing, walking meme.