The AEW veteran explains why he’s selective about opponents and focused on longevity over risks
Summary
– Billy Gunn says decades of taking bumps have caused hip pain and lasting wear
– He admits he fears injury that could keep him from training and staying active
– Gunn now wrestles mainly for nostalgia and chooses his opponents carefully
At over 60 years old, AEW’s Billy Gunn has nothing left to prove—but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to walk away. During a recent appearance on Fuel & Flex, the WWE Hall of Famer spoke candidly about how age and experience have changed his approach to wrestling, and what keeps him stepping back into the ring.
“Wrestling move-wise, that’s all they wanna see, the Fame-Asser,” Gunn said with a laugh. “But my hips started hurting. And I was like, ‘What is that from? Oh yeah, 35 years of landing on the same spot night after night.’”
These days, Gunn’s biggest concern isn’t his popularity—it’s his ability to stay healthy enough to train. “My biggest fear when I wrestle now is, ‘God, I hope I don’t get hurt, because then I won’t be able to go to the gym and lift.’ If I can’t do that, I’ll lose my mind,” he admitted.
Gunn also revealed that he’s become far more selective about who he works with, turning down matches with inexperienced talent who don’t understand the risks involved. “Nowadays people just go to wrestling school and think they’re John Cena,” he said. “They think they’re that good, and all of a sudden they say, ‘Hey, I’m gonna do this,’ and I go, ‘You’re not doing that to me. I’m not trusting you to turn me upside down when you’re 100 pounds soaking wet.’”
For Gunn, wrestling today is less about keeping up with the next generation and more about giving fans a chance to relive the moments they loved growing up. “When I get in the ring, it’s for nostalgia. It’s for parents who tell their kids, ‘Hey, this is the guy I grew up watching.’”
After more than three decades, Billy Gunn isn’t chasing the spotlight or style but chasing longevity. Smarter, stronger, and still standing tall, he’s doing things his way.
