WWE Rumors on R-Truth, Triple H and Money in the Bank, Latest on Kevin Owens' Injury

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

'Not One Person' Backstage Thinks R-Truth Release to be Work

R-Truth wasn't unemployed for long.

The 53-year-old announced on June 1 that WWE was letting him go with his contract expiring. By Saturday, he was back, interfering in the main event of Money in the Bank to help Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso beat John Cena and Logan Paul.

Truth denied this was all scripted from the start, and a report from Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp corroborates that account.

"There is not one person in WWE behind the scenes claiming that the R-Truth contract expiration was a work. Not one," Sapp said. "Not even an 'it could have been.'

"A lot of people were very upset he was gone. Many had direct, emotional conversations with R-Truth. He wasn't happy that it happened. Obviously everyone like that is very happy about it now, especially when it comes to what it could mean for them in a similar situation."

Truth's release wasn't all that different from how WWE handled its business when Vince McMahon ran the show. Every year, typically in the aftermath of WrestleMania, brought a wave of releases, and a wrestler's popularity and seniority provided no guarantees they'd be spared.

For a lot of fans, R-Truth's exit was emblematic of WWE's new way of operating under the TKO Group Holdings banner. The company is seemingly even less likely to let sentiment guide personnel decisions now that it has a corporate overlord.

Following the U-turn on Truth, the WWE Universe may still be able to use their voice to influence the on-screen product.

Money in the Bank Not Going Anywhere Despite Triple H's Reported Stance

WrestleVotes Radio reported in May that WWE chief content officer Triple H doesn't love the Money in the Bank briefcase on a conceptual level. Fightful Select (via Felix Upton of Ringside News) followed up Sunday to say that "certainly tracks with things we have heard since the report."

Don't expect Money in the Bank to go anywhere, though. Fightful added that the show is "too much of a moneymaker to give up."

Some novelties continue to stand the test of time. The Royal Rumble match remains an annual staple after nearly four decades.

Other innovations can have a sell-by date, and the Money in the Bank briefcase may fall under that banner.

WWE's creative staff has pretty much tried every possible avenue with the briefcase. Emerging stars and former world champions alike have climbed to the top of the ladder and earned a world title shot at a time of their choosing. Fans have seen multiple unsuccessful cash-ins and a variety of ways the cash-in unfolds.

As a storytelling device, it's tough to see any new directions in which WWE can take the briefcase.

And yet, the men's and women's ladder matches have very clear stakes that are easy to understand. It's likewise easy to build interest because fans will be curious to see whether a wrestler who has yet to win a world title is soon to receive a big push.

Whether Triple H likes it or not, WWE will stick with the Money in the Bank premium live event as long as it's a profitable exercise.

Kevin Owens Yet to Receive Surgery for Neck Injury

Kevin Owens announced in April he'd be unable to compete at WrestleMania 41 because of a neck injury that required surgery. With the calendar turning over to June, KO still hasn't gone under the knife.

"It's a very slow process. I still haven't had the operation," he said to French outlet Le10Sport (via Nick Austin of Ringside Intel). "There are lots of things to consider before the operation. We wait a little bit to see how things are going to evolve naturally.

"There's no doubt that I need an operation, but before we do the surgery, we just need to see how well it can… not to recover, because it won't get well, but slightly improve without surgery."

Owens went on to provide a concerning update regarding his timeline to wrestle.

"It would be wrong to be able to tell you right now that I'm definitely going to come back to the ring," he said.

WWE fans are all too aware that major neck injuries can be career-enders, or at the very least career-interruptors.

Adam Copeland retired in 2011 because he thought he'd never compete again. Jason Jordan hasn't stepped in the ring since his 2018 neck surgery, and the same is true for Big E after he went down in 2022.

Perhaps Owens intentionally misled his interviewer, knowing his comments would get picked up and gain traction. He could show up this week on Raw or SmackDown and start the build for a match at SummerSlam. Such is the unpredictability of the business.

Taking Owens at his word, it could be a long time before he's in the squared circle.