R-Truth has been pulled from tonight’s WWE SmackDown due to a medical issue, with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis announcing the change on X Friday afternoon.
“R-Truth is not medically cleared to compete tonight, therefore Damian Priest will now go 1-on-1 with Tama Tonga,” Aldis wrote. WWE reposted the announcement.
R-Truth and Damian Priest are the WWE Tag Team Champions. The two were originally booked in a non-title tag team match against Talla Tonga and Tama Tonga after the Tongas attacked both champions last week on SmackDown. With R-Truth unable to compete, the match has been changed to a singles bout between Priest and Tama Tonga.
No information has been provided on the nature of R-Truth’s medical issue or how long he is expected to be sidelined.
Tonight’s SmackDown airs live from Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina at 8 p.m. ET on USA Network and internationally on Netflix. The full card is as follows:
Damian Priest vs. Tama Tonga
Gunther must decide whether to officially move to SmackDown to challenge Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WWE Clash in Italy. Paul Heyman revealed last week that Gunther’s long-standing favor from WWE was a world title match against Rhodes at the May 31 pay-per-view in Turin, Italy.
US Champion Trick Williams returns to the University of South Carolina for a homecoming celebration. Williams is from Columbia and successfully defended the United States Championship against Sami Zayn at Backlash last week.
Jade Cargill speaks. Cargill returned to SmackDown last week for the first time since losing the WWE Women’s Championship to Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 42, attacking The Eradicator during a six-woman tag team match.
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Michin and B-Fab. After Jade Cargill’s interference helped Fatal Influence defeat Flair, Ripley, and Alexa Bliss last week, Flair and Bliss look for payback against Michin and B-Fab tonight.
WWE SmackDown airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET on USA Network.
