What’s up? Of the three wrestlers that returned at Survivor Series, Ron “R-Truth” Killings has made the most of his day-to-day appearances. Since R-Truth first snuck into the Judgment Day’s lair, the dynamic he and the heel stable have built up is reminiscent of Sami Zayn’s with The Bloodline in 2022. The typically menacing Damian Priest can’t help but crack a smile. Dominik Mysterio has even chuckled a time or two. The fans love it. The wrestlers involved love it. The build thus far has been good, albeit confusing at times. Where should this story go? The second written episode of Creative Control Card takes a look at a possible path to R-Truth officially joining the most prevalent WWE faction in 2023.
Royal Rumble 2024
All of the men in Judgment Day enter the Royal Rumble. With the numbers game, they figure they will be too much for the rest of the competition to handle. R-Truth enters about two-thirds of the way through the Rumble and wants to prove his worth. JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio will have both entered and been eliminated.
Finn Bálor is knocked out in the corner. Damien Priest thinks he has to fight for himself. The Miz enters and guns for Priest. He’s got Priest on the verge of elimination when none other than R-Truth comes in to make the save. He sends Miz over the top rope. R-Truth takes care of one of Judgment Day’s problems and Priest immediately recognizes it.
Minutes later, Drew McIntyre enters and he’s got Priest in his sights. McIntyre has Priest lined up for a Claymore but R-Truth shoves Priest out of the way and takes the hit for him. It sends R-Truth over the top rope and out. R-Truth fails to win the Royal Rumble, but he’s fully earned Priest’s respect and Bálor even gives him a nod of acknowledgement.
Lead-up to Elimination Chamber
The remainder of Judgment Day is really getting on JD McDonagh’s case. He hasn’t won anything in a long time and it makes the faction look bad. Rhea passive-aggressively tells JD he might be on borrowed time in the stable if he keeps up the losing. R-Truth continues his anti-JD campaign, interacting with different members of the Judgment Day and getting Bálor, Dominik Mysterio, and even Rhea to lighten up a little.
By the time Elimination Chamber comes around, R-Truth’s in-storyline stock has risen enough and JD’s has fallen enough where Rhea decides to make it official. The match is set: R-Truth vs. JD McDonagh in a street fight. The loser will leave Judgment Day. There is one twist, though: Damian Priest is the special guest referee. This will make people think that Priest will turn on R-Truth.
Elimination Chamber
R-Truth and JD McDonagh have another street fight to open Elimination Chamber. The storyline, in addition to where Damian Priest’s allegiances lie, is JD McDonagh having just about lost it. He has thrown his composure to the wayside and is desperate to prove himself by any means necessary. R-Truth has a close call or two with accidentally hitting Priest, but never touches him. Eventually, McDonagh, blinded by rage, misses R-Truth and hits Priest with a chair. When Priest wakes up, he immediately chokeslams JD McDonagh. R-Truth covers and wins. R-Truth is in, JD McDonagh is out.
What happens after?
R-Truth as a fully-fledged member of the Judgment Day can go several ways. Does R-Truth go after a singles championship? Does he stay the comic relief of the group similarly to Sami Zayn in The Bloodline? Perhaps he forms a tag team with Dominik Mysterio. The beauty of solidifying R-Truth as a member of the Judgment Day is the avenues are endless. Needless to say, with R-Truth in Judgment Day, there will be lots to live, laugh, and love about.
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