Fresh behind the curtain details have emerged regarding the setback scare involving R-Truth during the October 16 episode of WWE SmackDown, with Damian Priest receiving praise for his handling of the situation.
As previously shared by PWMania.com, the singles contest between Priest and Truth came to an unexpected conclusion after Truth showed up to suffer an health concern while attempting a dropkick from the top rope.
The referee ultimately stopped the contest prematurely, raising concerns about Truth’s condition.
Video footage of the incident subsequently circulated online, showing Priest communicating with the referee shortly after realizing that something appeared to be wrong.
Per Bryan Alvarez of F4WOnline.com, Priest was responsible for making the decision to bring the encounter to an early conclusion, while continuing to portray his on-screen character throughout the situation. “As you can see from the videos floating around,” Alvarez wrote. Did a hell of a job staying in character.” “Damian Priest made the call to take the Truth match home the moment he realized Truth was hurt.
The update provides additional insight into the unexpected finish, suggesting that Priest recognized the potential ailment and acted swiftly to prevent the contest from continuing unnecessarily.
On Sunday, Alvarez brought word that Truth showed up to be doing okay following the incident, although he was poised to undergo further medical evaluation.
Truth subsequently addressed the situation himself on Monday, sharing a photograph on social media in which he showed up to be undergoing an MRI.
The WWE veteran reassured fans that he was doing well and expressed his appreciation for the messages of support he had received. “I AM OK, Thank you ALL for your support, concerns and get well wishes — Wow, It truly feels amazing to feel and be loved I’m grateful for you all,” Truth wrote.
Despite the legitimate hurt concern, Truth moreover maintained his on-screen competitive tension with Priest, humorously accusing his ex two-person unit partner of attempting to kill him. “On 10/16/2026 I almost passed away… Damian Priest tried to kill me, — I didn’t think he was That serious… On the flip side ok, l’ll be back”
Truth’s comments suggest that he remains in positive spirits following the incident, although his post did not provide specific details about the nature or severity of any health concern.
As of this writing, WWE has not issued an official medical update or verified whether Truth will be required to miss additional in-ring action.
For now, Priest’s response in the course of the encounter has drawn recognition for his ability to react to a potentially serious situation while remaining in character.