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R-Truth

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Ron Killings
Born (1972-01-19) January 19, 1972 (age 52)
Atlanta, Georgia
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)K-Krush[1]
K-Kwik[1]
K. Malik Shabazz[1]
Ron Killings[1]
R-Truth[2]
Billed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Billed weight228 lb (103 kg)[2]
Billed fromCharlotte, North Carolina
Trained byManny Fernandez[3]
Chris Hamrick[3]
Italian Stallion[3]
George South[3]
Debut1997[1]

Ron Killings[4] (born January 19, 1972) is an American professional wrestler and rapper. He is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment, performing on the SmackDown brand under the ring name R-Truth.[2] He is best known for his work in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he was a two time NWA World Heavyweight Champion.

Early life

Killings was born in Atlanta but grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina. His family struggled to make ends meet as a result of low-paying jobs and periods of unemployment, and his father supplemented the family income by selling cannabis (marijuana). While Killings occasionally helped his father, he aspired to become a musician. After moving to Charlotte, Killings became enamored with hip hop music and breakdancing.

Throughout his high school career, Killings was a successful track runner and football player. He was on the same football team as MLB player Ray Durham at Harding High School. He was offered college scholarships, but turned them down in order to pursue a career in music. By the time he left school at the age of sixteen, Killings had met rappers such as Tupac Shakur and Eazy-E and was determined to become a rapper himself. He joined a talent agency named Ice Productions and became an opening act for performers such as MC Lyte and 3rd Bass. In order to fund his burgeoning career, Killings became a drug dealer. He spent three years dealing, earning enough in the process to pay for a recording studio, and began working on a debut album. After he heard that there was interest in his album, Killings decided to take part in one last drug deal in order to earn the necessary capital to finish his album. He, however, was arrested after one of his "friends" tipped-off the police. Killings spent 13 months in jail and became determined to stop dealing drugs and to obtain a legitimate job.[citation needed]

Killings was released from prison into a halfway house, where he met Jackie Crockett, an employee of the National Wrestling Alliance. Crockett tried to convince Killings to become a professional wrestler, but he was determined to focus on his music career. Killings spent two years working on his music career, this time funding his career by robbing drug dealers, before becoming disillusioned by his lifestyle. He contacted Crockett once more and expressed an interest in becoming a wrestler.[3]

Professional wrestling career

Crockett, by now the senior cameraman for World Championship Wrestling, took Killings to several WCW and Pro Wrestling Federation events, introducing him to wrestling personalities. Killings debuted in the PWF in 1997 as a manager, then spent three years traveling and training with Manny Fernandez. In 1999, he debuted in NWA Wildside as K-Krush, where he was awarded the newly-created NWA Wildside Television Championship on December 12. Killings lost the title to A.J. Styles on January 8, 2000.[3][5]

World Wrestling Federation (1999–2001)

At the urging of Rick Michaels, Killings sent a promotional videotape to the World Wrestling Federation. He was signed to a two year developmental deal by the WWF in 1999 and was assigned to Memphis Championship Wrestling, a WWF farm federation. On April 12 in Robinsonville, Mississippi he won a battle royal with the vacant MCW Southern Heavyweight Championship on the line. He lost the title to a masked Jerry Lawler on May 24 in Tunica, Mississippi, but reclaimed it from Joey Abs several months later in Memphis, Tennessee on August 19. His second reign ended on November 3, when he lost to Steve Bradley in Manila, Arkansas.[3]

Killings was promoted to the main roster after the Road Dogg, whose tag team partner, Billy Gunn, had been injured early that year, requested that they be placed in a tag team. He debuted on the November 13, 2000 episode of Raw, attacking William Regal during a match against Road Dogg. Killings, renamed K-Kwik, and the Road Dogg began rapping together, performing a song called "Getting' Rowdy" as they approached the ring.[3][5] Upon the return of Billy Gunn later that month, Killings was involved in a D-Generation X quasi-reunion. At Survivor Series on November 19, Killings teamed with former DX members Road Dogg, Billy Gunn, and Chyna to face The Radicalz in a Survivor Series match. Killings was eliminated from the match by Chris Benoit, and the Radicalz went on to win the match. At Armageddon on December 10, Killings and the Road Dogg took part in a four way tag team match for the WWF Tag Team Championship, which was won by Edge and Christian.

After Road Dogg was released in December, Killings became a singles competitor. He took part in the Royal Rumble on January 21, 2001 but was eliminated by The Big Show. Killings then began competing in the hardcore division. He defeated Raven for the WWF Hardcore Championship on February 3, but lost the title to Crash Holly that same evening.[6] He defeated Raven for the title a second time on February 5, this time in the Carolina Coliseum in Columbia, South Carolina, but once again he lost the title to Holly within the space of several hours.[6] Killings became somewhat a background figure of the Invasion angle during the summer months, often seen in dressing rooms and watching TV with other superstars during interpromotional matches. Killings was released from the WWF later that year.

Xtreme Pro Wrestling (2002)

In 2002, Killings joined Xtreme Pro Wrestling as K. Malik Shabazz, teaming with Salid Jihad and Raphael Muhammed as the New Panthers, a gimmick based upon the Black Panther movement. On July 20, in Pico Rivera, California, Killings and Muhammed took part in a four way tag team match for the XPW Tag Team Championships which was won by Damián 666 and Halloween. He left the promotion later that year.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2002-2007)

Debut (2002)

Killings signed with the Nashville, Tennessee-based Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion in June 2002, and appeared on the first weekly TNA pay-per-view on June 19 as "K-Krush". Killings immediately established himself as a heel by harassing NASCAR drivers Sterling Marlin and Hermie Sadler until he was attacked by Brian Christopher. Later that same evening, he participated in the Gauntlet for the Gold, but was eliminated by Malice. The following week, Killings lost to Christopher after Marlin and Sadler interfered in their match. On July 3, Killings and Jeff Jarrett defeated Christopher and Scott Hall after Christopher turned on Hall during the match, aligning himself with Killings and Jarrett. On July 10, Killings defeated Hermie Sadler in a squash. The decision, however, was overturned after Killings continued to attack Sadler after he had been awarded the match.

On the July 17 TNA pay-per-view, Killings delivered an angry promo in which he implied that he had been held back as a result of his race. He then stated that he was to be referred to as "The Truth". Killings eventually began using his own name, referring to himself as Ron "The Truth" Killings. In the following weeks, Killings gave several more racially charged interviews and had confrontations with fellow African American wrestler Monty Brown.[5]

Killings defeated Ken Shamrock for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at NWA-TNA 8 on August 7, thus becoming the second ever black NWA World Heavyweight Champion (although only the first recognized by the NWA as Ron Simmons became WCW World Heavyweight Champion after the WCW departed from the NWA). He successfully defended the title in matches with Monty Brown, Jerry Lynn, Low Ki, Curt Hennig, Hotstuff Hernandez, and Scott Hall before losing to Jeff Jarrett on November 20 after Vince Russo hit him with a guitar. As a result of Russo's involvement, Killings turned face. In subsequent months, Killings feuded with Sports Entertainment Xtreme before turning heel once again by attacking Jarrett on March 19. He later introduced Nelson Knight as his bodyguard, but soon turned face once more.

3Live Kru (2003–2005)

Main article: 3Live Kru

Between May and June, Killings began teaming with Konnan and former WWF ally B.G. James, and in July the trio formed a face stable known as the 3Live Kru. The Kru first wrestled as a unit on August 13, 2003, defeating the Disciples of The New Church (Sinn, Vampire Warrior, and Devon Storm). The Kru soon went after the NWA World Tag Team Championship. On November 26, the Kru defeated Simon Diamond, Johnny Swinger, and Glenn Gilberti in a six man tag team match with the vacant NWA World Tag Team Championships on the line. The NWA World Tag Titles were thus held by all three members of the Kru until January 28, 2004, when they were defeated by Redshirt Security (Kevin Northcutt and Legend) in Nashville.

After several abortive attempts to regain the tag titles, the Kru began supporting Killings' bid to become NWA World Heavyweight Champion. On June 9, NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett took part in a "3Live Kru Challenge" which saw him face Konnan, James and Killings in three subsequent matches. Jarrett defeated Konnan in a strap match and James in a "trailer park trash match" (hardcore match), but lost to Killings in a "Ghetto Justice match". On May 19, Killings faced NWA World Heavyweight Champion A.J. Styles, Raven, and Chris Harris in a four way title match. He won the bout, becoming a two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, after Jarrett hit Styles with a guitar. His reign lasted until June 2, when Jarrett defeated him in a King of the Mountain match which also included Harris, Styles, and Raven. The Kru went on to feud with Jarrett's mercenaries, the Elite Guard (Chad Collyer, Hotstuff Hernandez, and Onyx), and on July 14, the 3Live Kru, Dusty Rhodes, and Larry Zbyszko defeated Jarrett, Ken Shamrock, and the Elite Guard in a ten man tag team match.

The Kru began feuding with Team Canada in August, and at the inaugural three hour TNA pay-per-view, Victory Road, on November 7, in Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, Konnan and James defeated Team Canada members Bobby Roode and Eric Young for the NWA World Tag Team Championships. After Konnan suffered an injury, Killings and James defended the titles against Team Canada at Turning Point on December 5, but lost following interference from the injured Team Canada member Johnny Devine. Throughout early-2005, the Kru feuded with Michael Shane and Kazarian, Team Canada, and The Naturals. Dissension arose after James' former tag team partner from the WWF, Billy Gunn, joined TNA as "The New Age Outlaw" and began trying to convince James' to reform their highly-successful tag team, the New Age Outlaws. Killings and Konnan feuded with The Outlaw and Monty Brown, with James' loyalties divided. Brown and The Outlaw, who had by now renamed himself "Kip James" as a psychological ploy, defeated Killings and Konnan at No Surrender on July 17, with James declining to help either team. Killings and Konnan became increasingly frustrated, at one point referring to themselves as the "2Live Kru", although Killings repeatedly attempted to act as a mediator between James and the irate Konnan. The two teams faced one another in a No Surrender rematch on August 14 at Sacrifice, with James appointed guest referee by Director of Authority Larry Zbyszko, and James reaffirmed his loyalty to the Kru by attacking Kip, enabling Konnan to pin him and win the match. The Kru, apparently undivided, celebrated together following the match.

Killings teamed with Sonjay Dutt in the 2005 Chris Candido Cup. On August 19, in their first match of the tournament, Killings and Dutt were booked against B.G. James and his partner, Cassidy Riley. Throughout the match, Killings and James refused to fight one another, enraging Dutt and Riley. After Riley hit Killings with a fisherman DDT, James gave his own partner a pumphandle drop, allowing Dutt to pin Riley. After the match, Killings and James celebrated together, apparently undivided. Killings and Dutt were eliminated from the tournament by Shocker and Chris Sabin on September 2. The 3Live Kru won a six-man tag team match against The Diamonds in the Rough at Unbreakable on September 11. After Impact! premiered on Spike TV on October 1, Kip James entered the picture once more, but appeared to be helping 3LK this time. He refereed a Hockey Stick Fight at Genesis on November 13 and called the match fairly. 3LK won the match.

On the November 26 episode of Impact!, B.G. James brought Kip James and the 3Live Kru to ringside, then asked Killings and Konnan whether Kip could join the stable. Following a heated argument between the still skeptical Konnan and B.G., both Killings and Konnan gave their assent, and the "4Live Kru" was born. On December 11 at Turning Point, the Four Live Kru faced Team Canada in an eight man tag match. In the course of the match, Konnan hit Kip and B.G. James with chair shots, enabling Bobby Roode to pin Kip. He then attempted to celebrate with Killings, who appeared shocked by Konnan's actions. Killings would later tell Konnan that he was done with the Kru.

Resignation (2006–2007)

Following the break-up of the 3Live Kru, Killings began competing as a singles wrestler once more. He briefly aligned himself with Sting in March, teaming with Sting, A.J. Styles, and Rhino as "Sting's Warriors". At Lockdown on April 23, Sting's Warriors defeated Jarrett's Army in a Lethal Lockdown match. On the May 25 episode of Impact!, Killings defeated Monty Brown to qualify for a King of the Mountain match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at Slammiversary on June 18. At Slammiversary, however, Killings failed to win the championship. Killings then teamed with Lance Hoyt in the following months, even participating, but losing, in a Battle Royal at No Surrender. On November 19 at Genesis, Killings and his tag team partner Lance Hoyt defeated Austin Starr and Alex Shelley with Kevin Nash at ringside. He was then off the active roster due to injury. Killings returned to action at Slammiversary, teaming with James Storm in a losing effort against Frank Wycheck and Jerry Lynn, implying that he was now a heel.

On June 19, Killings tried to resign from TNA, intending to work for the Mexican Asistencia Asesoría y Administración.[7] Amidst more dissension backstage, however, TNA refused to release Killings. He returned to TNA on August 12 at Hard Justice, confronting American footballer Pacman Jones.[8] At No Surrender, Adam "Pacman" Jones and Ron Killings defeated Sting and Kurt Angle to win the TNA World Tag Team Championship. On October 14, A.J. Styles and Tomko defeated him and Jones's replacement, Rasheed Lucius "Consequences" Creed, for the TNA tag team titles. It was reported that Killings no-showed a New Japan event that was part of the TNA/NJPW invasion cross-promotion project: "Jeff Jarrett sent a notice to New Japan, apologizing deeply for Ron Killings' no-show at Sumo Hall on the 11th. He promised that TNA would send top-of-the-line wrestlers from now on and show what TNA is all about".[citation needed] On December 9, Ron Killings announced on his MySpace page that he and TNA management had agreed upon a mutual agreement in regards to his release from the company, stating, "I wish TNA the best and I'm looking forward to continue my wrestling career and looking to go back to my original stomping grounds."[citation needed]

Return to World Wrestling Entertainment (2008–present)

Killings re-signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2008. On July 25, during an episode of SmackDown, a vignette announced that Killings would debut on the SmackDown brand under the ring name R-Truth. He now enters through the crowd rapping his theme song "What's Up!' (Remix)".[9] WWE completely ignored his former time with the company as K-Kwik, making no mention of his Hardcore Championship title reigns or any other events from past years.[2] He made his in-ring debut on the August 29 edition of SmackDown as a face defeating Kenny Dykstra with a corkscrew scissors kick.[10] On the September 12 episode of SmackDown, R-Truth wrestled Chavo Guerrero in a match that he won via disqualification, after interference from Bam Neely. At Cyber Sunday, R-Truth faced United States Champion Shelton Benjamin in a title match, but ultimately lost. R-Truth received 59% of the vote (the other choices were Montel Vontavious Porter, who received 15% of the vote, and Festus, who received 26%). The match was streamed live on WWE.com, prior to the event. R-Truth was also involved in the traditional ten-men elimination tag team match at Survivor Series, but was eliminated by Shelton Benjamin. On WWE.com, R-Truth won the slammy for the Best Musical Performance.


In wrestling

  • Entrance themes
    • Gettin' Rowdy – Performed by Brian Gerard James and Ron Killings; composed by Jim Johnston
    • Rowdy – Performed by Ron Killings; composed by Jim Johnston[4]
    • What's My Name? – Performed by Ron Killings
    • What's My Name? (Instrumental) – Edited by Dale Oliver
    • 3 Live K – Performed by Brian Gerard James, Charles Ashenoff, and Ron Killings; composed by Dale Oliver (Used while in 3Live Kru)
    • Beware – Performed by Brian Gerard James, Charles Ashenoff, and Ron Killings; composed by Dale Oliver (Used while in 3Live Kru)
    • What's Up? – Performed by Ron Killings; composed by Dale Oliver
    • He's Back – Composed by Dale Oliver (Used while teaming with Pacman Jones)
    • What's Up? (Remix) – Performed by Ron Killings, composed by Dale Oliver and remixed by Jim Johnston.

Championships and accomplishments

1Killings defended the title with either James or Konnan under the Freebird Rule

Discography

  • InVINCEable (2001)
  • What's Up? (2006)
  • You Can't Stop Me (in production)[citation needed]

Media

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Ron Killings bio". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "R-Truth profile". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Ron Killings interview". WrestlingObserver.com. 2004-11-30. Archived from the original on 2008-01-02. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
  4. ^ a b "Ron Killings Bio". SLAM! sports. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  5. ^ a b c Wojcik, A. (2004-04-07). "Ron Killings interview". WrestlingObserver.com. Retrieved 2007-08-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  6. ^ a b c "WWE Hardcore Championship official title history". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
  7. ^ "2 stars quit TNA before tonight's TV tapings". WrestlingObserver.com. June 19, 2007. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Sokol, C. (2007-06-13). "Bad booking mars Hard Justice". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2007-08-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  9. ^ Martin, Andy (2008-07-09). "Regal's WWE suspension ending, Ron Killing update, + Trevor Murdoch". Wrestleview.com. Retrieved 2008-08-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  10. ^ Passero, Mitch (2008-08-29). "Steel City SmackDown". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  11. ^ Westcott, Brian. "Cyberspace Wrestling Federation/NWA Cyberspace Heavyweight Title History". Solie. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
  12. ^ Westcott, Brian. "MCW - Memphis Championship Wrestling/Memphis Wrestling MCW/Memphis Wrestling Southern Heavyweight Title History". Solie. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
  13. ^ Westcott, Brian. "NWA Wildside NWA Wildside/NWA World Television Title History". WWE. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessda te= ignored (help)
  14. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 2004". Wrestling Information Archive. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  15. ^ Duncan, Royal. "NWA - National Wrestling Alliance NWA World Heavyweight Title History". Solie. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
  16. ^ Duncan, Royal. "NWA National Wrestling Alliance NWA World Tag Team Titles History". Solie. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
  17. ^ Oliver, Earl. "TNA Total Non-Stop Action TNA World Tag Team Titles History". Solie. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
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