WWE has made a last-minute change to the May 15, 2026, episode of WWE SmackDown after WWE Tag Team Champion R-Truth was ruled out due to a medical issue.
SmackDown is airing live from the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina. Fans were originally set to see R-Truth and Damian Priest face Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga in a non-title tag bout. However, just hours before the show, General Manager Nick Aldis announced that the match had been changed.
Nick Aldis announces R-Truth is not medically cleared to compete on WWE SmackDown
Aldis shared the update on X and confirmed that R-Truth would not be wrestling tonight due to medical reasons. He wrote-
“Ladies and Gentlemen, R-Truth is not medically cleared to compete tonight, therefore Damian Priest will now go 1-on-1 with Tama Tonga. See you tonight on #SmackDown
@ArcherOfInfamy @TamaTonga01.”
Now, instead of the planned tag team match, Priest will face Tama Tonga in a singles match. The change still keeps the ongoing rivalry between the champions and The MFTs as a major focus of the show, but R-Truth’s absence definitely shakes up things.
Truth and Priest have been feuding with Solo Sikoa’s group ever since they won the WWE Tag Team titles from them back in March 2026. Since then, the champions have regularly been outnumbered during attacks and confrontations on SmackDown.
Things got even more intense last week when Tama and Talla attacked Priest and Truth. This led to the tag team match that was originally planned for tonight. But now, with Truth sidelined, Priest will once again have to fight alone.
WWE storylines have already hinted that the Tag Team Champion has been dealing with physical issues. Last week, Priest told Truth to stay backstage for his own safety because the attacks from The MFTs grew fiercer. The episode also featured Royce Keys helping Priest and Truth during a beatdown from the MFT.
WWE has not revealed exactly why R-Truth is unable to compete.
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