The Gunns Explained
The Gunns are a professional wrestling tag team consisting of real-life brothers Austin and Colten Gunn, who are the sons of professional wrestler Billy Gunn. They are currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Ring of Honor (ROH), where they are members of the Bang Bang Gang stable. They are former one-time AEW World Tag Team Champions and one-time ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champions and AEW World Trios Champions (collectively held as the Unified World Trios Championship).
Austin and Billy first began teaming on the independent circuit in 2017,[1] before Austin debuted for AEW as his father's tag team partner in 2020.[2] The two began teaming as The Gunn Club. They became a trio later that year when Colten debuted in AEW and joined the group; they teamed for the next two years, until Austin and Colten turned on Billy in favor of siding with Stokely Hathaway in 2022.[3] They soon ceased using the Gunn Club name and began referring themselves as simply "The Gunns".[4] They achieved major success in 2023, winning the AEW World Tag Team Championship.[5] In April 2024, together with Bullet Club Gold member Jay White, they unified the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship and the AEW World Trios Championship as the Unified World Trios Championship.
History
Independent circuit (2017 - present)
Austin Gunn made his professional wrestling debut on March 18, 2017, by teaming with his father Billy Gunn at a Sunbelt Wrestling Entertainment event against Adam Rose, Deimos and Justin Oversheet in a handicap match, which Austin and Billy won.[6] The father and son duo teamed with each other on a few more occasions on the independent circuit.[7] [8]
Austin and Colten Gunn would win their first professional wrestling championship at a New South Wrestling event Resurrection on March 11, 2022, where they defeated TME (Duke Davis and Ganon Jones Jr.) to win the New South Tag Team Championship.[9] Two weeks later, at Royal Glory, they lost the titles to The Bad News Boyz (Brandon Tate and Brent Tate) in a three-way match, also involving Facade and James Storm.
All Elite Wrestling / Ring of Honor (2020–present)
The Gunn Club (2020 - 2022)
Billy Gunn joined the upstart promotion All Elite Wrestling from the very beginning in 2019, as a producer and an occasional on-screen talent.[10] His son Austin debuted for AEW in a non-televised match during a taping of Dark on January 1, 2020, as Austin and Billy defeated Preston Vance and Shawn Spears.[11] Austin's televised debut in AEW occurred on the January 14 episode of Dark, as Austin and Billy, known as "The Gunn Club", defeated Peter Avalon and Shawn Spears.[12] Gunn Club established themselves as fan favorites, winning their earlier matches on Dark throughout the year, until the September 15 episode of Dark, where they teamed with Private Party (Isaiah Kassidy and Marq Quen) against The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds, Evil Uno, John Silver and Stu Grayson) in an eight-man tag team match, which Dark Order won.[1] Gunn Club's first match as a team on Dynamite occurred on November 4, where they teamed with Cody Rhodes to defeat Dark Order members Colt Cabana, John Silver and Ten in a six-man tag team match.[13]
On the November 17 episode of Dark, Gunn Club expanded to a trio as Billy's elder son Colten made his professional wrestling debut by teaming with Billy and Austin to defeat Bshp King, Joey O'Riley and Sean Maluta.[14] Austin and Colten made their pay-per-view debut at Revolution on March 7, 2021, by participating in a Casino Tag Team Royale as the #5 and #6 entrants, for a future AEW World Tag Team Championship opportunity. They were both eliminated by Q. T. Marshall.[15] Gunn Club enjoyed a successful run on Dark throughout 2021, winning all of their tag team and six-man tag team matches. Their success continued in 2022, resulting in Austin and Colten topping AEW's tag team rankings on February 9, with a tag team record of 3-0 in 2022.[16] As a result, Austin and Colten earned a World Tag Team Championship opportunity against Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus) on the February 11 episode of Rampage,[17] which they failed to win.[18] Austin and Colten would fail in subsequent #1 contender's matches on the February 23 and March 2 episodes of Dynamite to earn another opportunity at the titles.[19] [20]
During this time, Gunn Club transitioned into villains by forming an alliance with The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens and Max Caster).[21] [22] Caster began teaming with Gunn Club more frequently after Bowens suffered a knee injury in May.[23] They began appearing more on Dynamite and Rampage, beginning with the June 1 episode of Dynamite, where they lost to CM Punk and FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood).[24] [25] On the Road Rager episode of Rampage, Caster and Gunn Club defeated Ruffin It (Bear Boulder, Bear Bronson and Leon Ruffin).[26] At, the entire Gunn Club trio teamed with Caster to defeat Alex Coughlin, Kevin Knight, The DKC and Yuya Uemura.[27]
On the 2022 Blood and Guts episode of Dynamite, Caster and the Gunn Club lost to Danhausen and FTR after Bowens accidentally hit Austin with his crutch. Austin and Colten confronted Acclaimed after the match and left the ring, while Billy stayed with the Acclaimed.[28] The following week, on Dynamite, the Acclaimed and Gunn Club defeated Fuego Del Sol and Ruffin It in an eight-man tag team match. However, Billy attacked the Acclaimed after the match due to dissension between both teams.[29] This would result in the Gunn Club facing the Acclaimed in a dumpster match on the August 3 episode of Dynamite,[30] which Gunn Club lost.[31] Billy tried to reconcile with Austin and Colten on the August 17 episode of Dynamite but Stokely Hathaway appeared on the stage and Austin and Colten turned on Billy by attacking him and siding with Hathaway, which resulted in Acclaimed making the save and forming an alliance with Billy. This marked Billy's removal from the Gunn Club.[32]
The Gunns and Bang Bang Gang (2022 - present)
Austin and Colten resumed their alliance with Stokely Hathaway, as they joined his group of wrestlers The Firm and changed their name to The Gunns.[33] [34] [35] Gunns began mocking FTR by impersonating them during their matches, also including attacking them post-match at Final Battle.[36] This led to a match between both teams at the Holiday Bash episode of Dynamite,[37] which the Gunns won.[38]
On the February 8 episode of Dynamite, Gunns defeated The Acclaimed to win the AEW World Tag Team Championships.[39] After successfully defending the titles twice,[40] The Gunns name-dropped FTR among the teams they had beaten during a post-match interview, which led to FTR returning to AEW and attacking the Gunns.[41] [42] The Gunns subsequently lost against FTR in a title vs career match on the April 5 edition of Dynamite.[43] This would effectively disband The Firm, with the Gunns allying with Jay White and Juice Robinson of Bullet Club Gold.[44] [45]
On January 17, 2024, The Gunns and White defeated Mogul Embassy (Brian Cage, Kaun and Toa Liona) for the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship.[46] On the January 20 episode of Collision, The Gunns, White, The Acclaimed, and Billy Gunn joined forces to form a stable known as the Bang Bang Scissor Gang, reuniting Austin and Colten with their father Billy. On March 13 at Big Business, Bullet Club Gold turned on The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn, disbanding the Bang Bang Scissor Gang. On April 5 at Supercard of Honor, The Gunns made their debut for Ring of Honor (ROH), teaming with White to retain their ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championshhips against Monstersauce (Lance Archer and Alex Zayne) and Minoru Suzuki. At Dynasty Zero Hour, Bullet Club Gold defeated The Acclaimed in a winner takes all championship unification match to unify the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship with the AEW World Trios Championship as the Unified World Trios Championship.[47] During this time, Bullet Club Gold silently renamed to the Bang Bang Gang.[48] On the June 5 Rampage tapings, a returning Robinson wrestled his first match since his return, teaming with The Gunns to win a trios match. After the match, White announced that he was giving Robinson a share of the Unified Trios Championship held by White and the Gunns, thus invoking the Freebird Rule.[49] However, on the July 13 episode of Collision, interim AEW Executive Vice President Christopher Daniels overruled Bang Bang Gang's attempt to invoke the Freebird Rule and stripped them of the Unified World Trios Championship.[50] On the following week, The Gunns and Robinson failed to win the vacant AEW World Trios Championship, which was won by The Patriarchy (Christian Cage, Killswitch and Nick Wayne) after interference from Mother Wayne.[51]
Ass Boys nickname
While officially known by their last ring name, Gunn, Colten and Austin were also begrudgingly known as the Ass Boys, in reference to their father Billy Gunn's infamous "Mr. Ass" gimmick during WWE's Attitude Era that involved the elder Gunn mooning his opponents.
In November 2021, ROH wrestler Danhausen began a Twitter feud with The Gunn Club, referring to Billy as "Billy Ass" and Colten and Austin as The "Ass Boys". While Billy himself initially had no comment, Colten and Austin despised the nickname after fans began chanting "Ass Boys" during their matches, notably during an AEW event at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.[52] Billy finally commented where he surprised his sons by wearing an "Ass Boys" shirt, encouraging them to "embrace the assness" and even started teasing mooning the crowd again.[53] Billy also thanked Danhausen publicly for getting his sons over in a way that he couldn't.
Championships and accomplishments
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Gunn Club match history . Cagematch . 8 March 2023.
- Web site: Bryan Rose . Austin Gunn signs with All Elite Wrestling . . 8 March 2023 . January 9, 2020.
- Web site: H Jenkins . Gunn Club Turns On Billy Gunn During AEW Dynamite . Ringside News . 8 March 2023 . August 17, 2022.
- Web site: Andre Porter . BILLY GUNN'S SONS ARE DISTANCING THEMSELVES FROM 'THE GUNN CLUB' NAME . Ringside News . 8 March 2023 . October 13, 2022.
- Web site: Ethan Renner . The Gunns crowned AEW Tag Team Champions on Dynamite . . 8 March 2023 . February 8, 2023.
- Web site: SWE . Cagematch . 8 March 2023.
- Web site: ACW New Year's Bang Bang . Cagematch . 8 March 2023.
- Web site: MCW New Years Mayhem 2018 . Cagematch . 8 March 2023.
- Web site: Jeremy Lambert . NSW Resurrection Results (3/11): Billy Gunn, Carlito, Chelsea Green In Action . Fightful . 8 March 2023 . March 12, 2022.
- Web site: Steven Fernandes . JERICHO SIGNS AEW DEAL, BILLY GUNN ON BOARD AS PRODUCER, STARRCAST 2 AND MORE . Pro Wrestling Insider . 8 March 2023 . January 8, 2019.
- Web site: Mike Tedesco . SPOILERS: AEW Dark taping results from Jacksonville to stream Tuesday on YouTube . WrestleView . 8 March 2023 . January 2, 2020.
- Web site: Briar Starr . 1/14 AEW Dark results: Starr's review of the Memphis Wrestling tribute, Darby Allin vs. Brandon Cutler, Nyla Rose vs. Shanna, Shawn Spears and Peter Avalon vs. Billy Gunn and Austin Gunn . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . 8 March 2023 . January 15, 2020.
- Web site: Jake Barnett . 11/4 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of the Full Gear go-home show with The Young Bucks vs. Private Party, Ortiz and Sammy Guevara vs. MJF and Wardlow, Miro vs. Trent, Cody, Billy, and Austin Gunn vs. John Silver, Colt Cabana, and 10, Nyla Rose vs. Red Velvet, Pac breaks his silence . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . 8 March 2023 . November 4, 2020.
- Web site: Briar Starr . 11/17 AEW Dark results: Starr's review of Jack Evans vs. Christopher Daniels, Joey Janela vs. Marko Stunt, TNT vs. Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus, Thunder Rosa vs. Lindsay Snow, Frankie Kazarian vs. Griff Garrison . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . 8 March 2023 . November 18, 2020.
- Web site: Wade Keller . 3/7 AEW REVOLUTION PPV RESULTS: Keller's report with star ratings on Omega vs. Moxley, Big Surprise Signing, Ladder Match, Bucks vs. Jericho & MJF . Pro Wrestling Torch . 8 March 2023 . March 7, 2021.
- Web site: AEW Rankings as of Wednesday February 9, 2022 . . 8 March 2023 . February 9, 2022.
- Web site: AEW Rampage Preview for February 11, 2022 . . 8 March 2023 . February 11, 2022.
- Web site: Colin McGuire . 2/11 AEW Rampage results: McGuire's review of Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus vs. Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn for the AEW Tag Titles, The Young Bucks vs. Roppongi Vice, AEW Women's Champion Britt Baker vs. Robyn Renegade in a non-title match, Hook vs. Blake Li, Bryan Danielson's promo . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . 8 March 2023 . February 11, 2022.
- Web site: Jason Powell . 2/23 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of Malakai Black and Brody King vs. Penta El Zero Miedo and Pac, Jade Cargill vs. The Bunny for the TBS Title, Tag Team Battle Royale, Ricky Starks vs. 10 in a Face of the Revolution ladder match qualifier, Bryan Danielson vs. Daniel Garcia, Chris Jericho and Eddie Kingston confrontation . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . 8 March 2023 . February 23, 2022.
- Web site: Jake Barnett . 3/2 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of Tony Khan's major announcement, Hangman Page, John Silver, and Alex Reynolds vs. Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, and Kyle O'Reilly, Tag Team Casino Battle Royale, final hype for AEW Revolution . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . 8 March 2023 . March 2, 2022.
- Web site: Briar Starr . 1/25 AEW Dark results: Starr's review of Jungle Boy vs. Nick Comoroto, Penta El Zero Miedo vs. Wheeler Yuta, Dante Martin, Lee Moriarty and Matt Sydal vs. The Blade and Private Party, Evil Uno, Alex Reynolds, Alan '5″ Angels, and 10 vs. Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, Max Caster, and Anthony Bowens . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . 8 March 2023 . January 26, 2022.
- Web site: Rich Bailin . 02/07 AEW Dark Elevation results: Bailin's review of Dante Martin vs. Aaron Solo, Best Friends vs. Chaos Project, Colten Gunn, Austin Gunn, Max Caster, and Anthony Bowens vs. Lee Johnson, Brock Anderson, Matt Sydal, and Lee Moriarty, Julia Hart vs. Arie Alexander, Robert Anthony vs. Bobby Fish . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . 8 March 2023 . February 8, 2022.
- Web site: Bryan Rose . AEW's Anthony Bowens recovering following knee procedure . . 8 March 2023 . May 20, 2022.
- Web site: Parker Klyn . AEW Dynamite live results: Double or Nothing fallout . . 8 March 2023 . June 1, 2022.
- Web site: Jason Powell . 6/1 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of MJF speaking coming out of the Double Or Nothing drama, new AEW Champion CM Punk and FTR vs. Max Caster and Gunn Club, Johnny Elite's open challenge, Jon Moxley vs. Daniel Garcia, Toni Storm and Ruby Soho vs. Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter, ten-man tag match . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . 8 March 2023 . June 1, 2022.
- Web site: Colin McGuire . 6/17 AEW Rampage results: McGuire's review of Jon Moxley vs. Dante Martin, Jade Cargill vs. Willow Nightingale for the TBS Title, Darby Allin vs. Bobby Fish, Max Caster, Austin Gunn, and Colten Gunn vs. Bear Bronson, Bear Boulder, and Leon Ruffin . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . 8 March 2023 . June 17, 2022.
- Web site: Jason Powell . AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door Buy-In pre-show results: Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado, Max Caster, Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, and Billy Gunn vs. The DKC, Kevin Knight, Alex Coughlin, and Yuya Uemura, and Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi vs. QT Marshall and Aaron Solo . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . 8 March 2023 . June 26, 2022.
- Web site: Jason Powell . 6/29 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Eddie Kingston, Wheeler Yuta, Santana, and Ortiz vs. Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard, and Angelo Parker in a Blood & Guts match, Jade Cargill vs. Leila Grey for the TBS Title, Orange Cassidy vs. Ethan Page . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . 8 March 2023 . June 29, 2022.
- Web site: Jake Barnett . 7/6 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of Jon Moxley vs. Brody King for the Interim AEW World Championship, Scorpio Sky vs. Wardlow in a Street Fight for the TNT Title, Thunder Rosa and Toni Storm vs. Nyla Rose and Marina Shafir, Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee vs. The Butcher and The Blade . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . 8 March 2023 . July 6, 2022.
- Web site: AEW Dynamite Preview for August 3, 2022 . . 8 March 2023 . August 3, 2022.
- Web site: Parker Klyn . AEW Dynamite live results: Chris Jericho vs. Wheeler Yuta . . 8 March 2023 . August 3, 2022.
- Web site: Jason Powell . 8/17 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of The Young Bucks and a partner vs. Andrade, Rush, and Dragon Lee in an AEW Trios Titles tournament match, Bryan Danielson vs. Daniel Garcia in a best of three falls match, Ricky Steamboat appears, Toni Storm vs. KiLynn King, Gunn Club vs. The Varsity Blonds . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . 8 March 2023 . August 17, 2022.
- Web site: Wade Keller . 9/4 AEW ALL OUT PPV RESULTS: Keller's report on Moxley vs. Punk, Jericho vs. Danielson, Casino Battle Royal, Trio Tournament Final, Starks vs. Hobbs . Pro Wrestling Torch . 8 March 2023 . September 4, 2022.
- Web site: Jake Barnett . 9/14 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of Bryan Danielson vs. Chris Jericho and Jon Moxley vs. Sammy Guevara in semifinal tournament matches for the vacant AEW World Championship, Toni Storm and Athena vs. Britt Baker and Serena Deeb . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . 8 March 2023 . September 14, 2022.
- Web site: Rich Bailin . 10/17 AEW Dark Elevation results: Bailin's review of Gunn Club vs. The Bollywood Boyz, Emi Sakura and Serena Deeb vs. Madison Rayne and Skye Blue, Butcher and Blade vs. The Voros Twins, Athena vs. Jody Threat, Frankie Kazarian vs. Matt Blackmon, Junior Benito and Dylan Davis vs. Jay Lethal and Satnam Singh, Jessika Neri and Jeremy Profit vs. Penelope Ford and Kip Sabian . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . 8 March 2023 . October 18, 2022.
- Web site: Briar Starr . 11/8 AEW Dark results: Starr's review of Toni Storm and Hikaru Shida vs. Emi Sakura and Mei Suruga, Peter Avalon vs. Brandon Cutler, Athena vs. Diamante, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta vs. Cezar Bononi and Ryan Nemeth, AR Fox and Caleb Konley vs. Eddie Kingston and Ortiz, Marcus Kross vs. Kip Sabian . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . 8 March 2023 . November 9, 2022.
- Web site: AEW Dynamite: Holiday Bash 2022 Preview For December 21st . . 8 March 2023 . December 21, 2022.
- Web site: Jason Powell . 12/21 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of Death Triangle vs. The Elite in a No DQ match in the fifth match of a Best of Seven series for the AEW Trios Titles, Jamie Hayter vs. Hikaru Shida for the AEW Women's Title, FTR vs. Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn, Rick Ross mediates a Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee meeting . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . 8 March 2023 . December 21, 2022.
- Web site: Jake Barnett . 2/8 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of MJF vs. Konosuke Takeshita, and Jamie Hayter vs. The Bunny in eliminator matches, Bryan Danielson vs. Rush, The Acclaimed vs. Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn for the AEW Tag Titles, The Elite vs. AR Fox and Top Flight for the AEW Trios Titles, Ricky Starks runs the JAS Gauntlet . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . 8 March 2023 . February 8, 2023.
- Web site: Ryan Howard . AEW Revolution live results: MJF vs. Bryan Danielson Iron Man match . . 8 March 2023 . March 5, 2023.
- Web site: Ethan Renner . FTR return to AEW at Revolution, attack The Gunns . . 10 March 2023 . March 5, 2023.
- Web site: Schrute . Michael . 2023-03-22 . AEW Dynamite Results for March 22, 2023 . 2023-07-11 . Wrestling News WWE and AEW Results, Spoilers, Rumors & Scoops .
- Web site: AEW Dynamite Results 4/5/23 . 5 April 2023 .
- Web site: AEW Star to be ROH's New Authority Figure – TJR Wrestling . 5 June 2023 .
- Web site: Rose . Bryan . The Gunns officially join Bullet Club Gold on AEW Collision . WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results . 2 July 2023 . GunnsJoinBCG . 1 July 2023.
- Web site: Powell. Jason. AEW Dynamite results (1/17): Powell’s live review of Samoa Joe vs. Hook for the AEW World Championship, Christian Cage vs. Dustin Rhodes for the TNT Title, Mogul Embassy vs. Bullet Club Gold for the ROH Six-Man Titles. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. January 17, 2024. January 18, 2024.
- Web site: Miller . Haley . April 21, 2024 . Bullet Club Gold Become the Inaugural Unified World Trios Champions at AEW Dynasty . April 22, 2024 . ComicBook .
- Web site: 2024-05-23 . Bang Bang Gang vs. Death Triangle Set For AEW Double Or Nothing . 2024-05-24 . Yahoo Entertainment . en-US.
- Web site: AEW Rampage Results for June 7, 2024 . June 7, 2024 . All Elite Wrestling.com . AEW Staff.
- Web site: Powell . Jason . July 13, 2024 . AEW Collision results (7/13): Powell's live review of Matt Taven and Mike Bennett vs. Orange Cassidy and Kyle O'Reilly, Konosuke Takeshita vs. Tommy Billington, Skye Blue vs. Harley Cameron . July 14, 2024 . Pro Wrestling Dot Net .
- Web site: Murphy . Don . July 20, 2024 . AEW Collision results (7/20): Murphy's review of Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, and Juice Robinson vs. The Patriarchy for the vacant Unified Trios Titles, Thunder Rosa vs. Deonna Purrazzo in a lumberjack match . July 21, 2024 . Pro Wrestling Dot Net .
- danhausenad. 1461894240720625666 . Danhausen is happy for the Ass Boys getting an Ass Boys chant! Hard working family with a wonderful family name! . November 20, 2021 . July 22, 2022.
- News: Rueter . Sean . December 18, 2021 . Billy Gunn thanks Danhausen for getting his sons' asses over . July 22, 2022 . Cageside Seats.
- Web site: AEW World Tag Team Championship Title History . . 8 March 2023.