9 Ups & 3 Downs For AEW Collision (22 July)

3. The End Of The Line For Billy Gunn?

If this is indeed the end of the line for Billy Gunn, it's been a heck of a run.

On Collision, we saw Malakai Black and Buddy Matthews have private words with Daddy Ass post-match, before Gunn took his boots off and left them in the ring; something that has historically been used to mark a wrestler calling time on their career.

It remains to be seen whether this is indeed a genuine in-ring retirement or part of a wider storyline, but Billy deserves so much credit for how good he somehow still is at the ripe old age of 59.

For full disclosure, when making notes as Collision played, your writer made reference to how smooth Gunn still is with his work these days. So, it came very much as a surprise to see Billy's implied retirement follow his team's loss to House of Black.

If Gunn is done as an in-ring talent - he also serves as a coach for AEW behind the scenes - it calls time on a career which has spanned five decades, dating back to his debut in 1989. During that time, there have been plenty of highs and lows in and outside the squared circle, with Billy having a Hall of Fame career decorated with numerous titles. More importantly, the veteran has also overcome saw serious demons in his personal life.

To imagine Billy Gunn would've had the run he's had with AEW over this last year or more, nobody could've predicted that. Even better, it's been phenomenal to see the sheer fun the former Mr. Ass has had during his time with Anthony Bowens and Max Caster.

For his achievements, his work ethic, and his sheer longevity, Billy Gunn absolutely gets an Up here. While your scribe clearly doesn't have the power of Simon Miller, if I did, it'd for sure be a Golden Up for the Ass Man.