10 Things WWE Wants You To Forget About Billy Gunn

3. Steve Austin Refused To Work A Singles Programme With Him

WWE first began seeing superstar potential in Gunn in 1999. The Outlaws were over like nothing else and, as the more muscular and taller of the two, it was deemed that Gunn was clearly the star of the team and the one most likely to find success in the singles ranks. WWE engineered a big push for Gunn in 1999, starting proper which him being crowned the King of the Ring. From there, Billy went on to feud with a red-hot The Rock. The two clashed at SummerSlam in what was easily The Ass Man's biggest match to date. Although Gunn lost, he was elevated by his association with The Great One. But WWE had even bigger plans in store for Billy, including a winter series of matches with top dog Stone Cold Steve Austin. However, the Texas Rattlesnake didn't bite, rejecting the feud and essentially sending Gunn right back down the card. Austin was very protective of his character and position in 1999 and rightfully so. He felt that, by being programmed against the likes of Jeff Jarrett (whom he was supposed to clash with in September and October) and Billy Gunn (November and December), the company was trying to phase him out in order to push other workers like Triple H and The Rock.