Billy Gunn Hints Retirement, Leaves Boots In The Ring at AEW Collision

On the July 22 episode of AEW Saturday Collision, Billy Gunn left his boots in the ring, and suggesting that he is done with his in-ring career.

During the July 22 episode of AEW Collison, Billy Gunn, Max Caster, and Anthony Bowens got the opportunity to win the Trios championship against House of Black (Buddy Matthews, Brody King, and Malakai Black). The Acclaimed and Gunn lost the match after Gunn was outnumbered in the ring and was pinned by Malakai Black following a Black Mass kick.

After the match, Malakai Black approached Billy Gunn and said something in his ear. After House of Black left the ring, Billy Gunn unlaced his boot and left them in the center of the ring. The Acclaimed tried to talk to him, but Gunn ignored them.

Is this the end of a career…?

Watch #AEWCollision on TNT!@Bowens_Official | @PlatinumMax | @RealBillyGunn pic.twitter.com/gX1GPfxW74

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 23, 2023

Wrestlers placing their boots in the center of the ring symbolizes the ending of their in-ring career. Several tributes came in response led by Gunn’s sons Austin and Colten.

However, some are seeing this as a storyline angle. On April 8, 2021, Cody Rhodes also left his boots in the ring after failing to beat Malakai Black. However, Rhodes mentioned that he did so so that he would make a comeback with more power. It remains to be seen if this act from Gunn is also part of a storyline.

The crowd was firmly behind Gunn with “you still got it” chants. Will it prompt Gunn to return to the ring?

If he retires, Billy Gunn will close the curtain on a career that started in 1989. He signed with WWE in 1993 and remained with the company until 2004. He also teamed up with Road Dogg to form The New Age Outlaws tag team, which also part of the D-Generation-X stable.

After 2004, he also appeared in TNA, NJPW and independent circuit along with more shorter stints with WWE. He joined AEW as a producer in 2019 before starting to make onscreen appearances with his sons before joining The Acclaimed.