Damian Priest found himself battling more than just The MFT on the May 29 episode of WWE SmackDown in Barcelona, Spain.
During a backstage segment ahead of Clash in Italy, the WWE Tag Team Champion once again appeared to be fighting an uphill battle to maintain his trademark serious demeanor while sharing the screen with R-Truth.
While some fans quickly pointed out Priest’s reactions, the moment was firmly rooted in WWE’s ongoing storyline and the duo’s well-established comedic chemistry.
Damian Priest and R-Truth continue their SmackDown comedy dynamic
The segment began with an update on R-Truth’s status. Priest’s tag team partner was not medically cleared to compete in their scheduled match against Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga of The MFT.
Royce Keys then approached Priest to inform him that he would be stepping in as his replacement partner for the night. What should have been a straightforward conversation quickly took a familiar turn when Truth remained completely oblivious to the tension between Priest and Keys.
As Truth questioned why the two were focused on each other instead of their opponents, Priest played the frustrated straight man. The interaction led to visible moments where he appeared to be holding back his reactions, a dynamic that WWE fans have come to expect whenever the two share screen time.
In fact, Priest struggling to keep a straight face around Truth has become something of a running gag. The chemistry dates back to Truth’s memorable involvement with The Judgment Day, where Priest was frequently caught trying not to laugh at his partner’s unpredictable comments. It’s a partnership that continues to deliver, even when Priest looks one step away from tapping out to laughter rather than an opponent.
One fan account, @TheHulchal, summed up the sentiment online by writing: “I love it that every time R-Truth says something, Damian Priest immediately wants to laugh so hard & then tries to control it.”
Later in the evening, Priest and Keys teamed up against The MFT but came up short. Still, the backstage segment once again proved that whenever Truth is involved, keeping a straight face might be the toughest match on the card.
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