Last week on Dynamite, during a match against Swerve Strickland, Billy Gunn danced in the ring and performed a little shimmy. The moment was akin to a strip tease, and the crowd erupted with thunderous applause each time Gunn shook his chiseled hips. It was a reminder that, no matter the decade or promotion, Gunn is still beloved by wrestling fans.
In that moment, Gunn could feel the unbridled emotion, the kind which leaves absolutely no doubt that a performer has connected with the audience. Gunn possesses the ability to evoke a rare, spectacular type of energy from fans, and that is what he is accomplishing anew in All Elite Wrestling.
Gunn has already reached, both individually and collectively, a rare level of success in pro wrestling. His work in D-Generation X and as one-half of the New Age Outlaws is quite a legacy, one he continues to add to as a coach and performer in AEW. The support from fans is overwhelming, making Gunn—who is 58-year-old Monty Sopp—overflow with gratitude.
