Former WWE Superstar and trainer Billy Gunn recently spoke with Chris Featherstone for Sports Illustrated’s
Extra Mustard blog.
One of the most recent big moments of Gunn’s WWE career was his involvement in the Sting vs. Triple H match at last year’s WrestleMania 31. Fans either loved or hated their interference, but Gunn thinks that DX and the nWo made the match even bigger in the eyes of the fans.
“You’re really looking for moments. It is a Sting moment, because it’s the first WrestleMania he’s ever been in and he’s wrestling Hunter. But then again, from a company standpoint, how do we get the most out of this because our fanbase is not really a Sting fanbase? Sting being there is a big moment, but when you have DX and nWo behind that, it makes a little bigger in the majority of the people’s eyes. I’m not meaning to downplay Sting in any moment, but the way I look at it, it was just a bigger moment at a WrestleMania, rather than just that single moment.”
He also commented on his release from WWE last year after violating the company’s Talent Wellness policy. There had been reports that Gunn tested positive for PED’s at a powerlifting event and kept it quiet for several months. He explained to Sports Illustrated:
“The first thing I want to make clear is the powerlifting meet that I went to. I wasn’t on it to win that powerlifting contest because it was me against me anyway. I popped on their test, because I was over their test limit. Let’s face it: I’m 52 years old. I have my [prescription] from the doctor, but it was the way it all came out is what they had to do. I don’t blame them at all, and I’m going to take every single bit of it because it wasn’t fair to NXT for what Hunter had done for the company. What he’s done with that brand is amazing. [WWE] had to do what they had to do. They did it, and I’m perfectly fine with it, and hopefully one day they’ll hire me back because I feel I was a pretty good coach. It’s just the way it all came out. It wasn’t anything that WWE did; they [had] to do what they did, and I feel like I let the NXT kids down. I never, ever wanted to do that. Ever. So I’ll take that.”
Other topics discussed include DX’s invasion of WCW live on Monday Nitro back in 1998, his time in TNA and much more.