Anthony Bowens Says He Didn’t Know Billy Gunn Was Going To Retire On 7/22 AEW Collision

On the July 22 episode of AEW Collision, The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) & Billy Gunn lost to The House of Black (Buddy Matthews, Malakai Black, & Brody King) in an AEW Trios Championship match. 

After the match, Billy Gunn took his boots off and laid them in the middle of the ring before walking out, indicating that he would be retiring. 

Speaking on Chris Distefano Presents: Chrissy Chaos, Bowens was asked if he knew that moment would be happening. 

“No, I really didn’t. I don’t think the cameras caught it, but I get very emotional when I’m out there because I get connected to the audience, I don’t think I’ve cried in a wrestling ring. I got teary eyed because he stood up and his face was beat red, and at this point in our careers where Billy has been such a beacon of light for us, he’s been guiding us from the beginning since we joined up with him last year. He guided us to the AEW Tag Team Titles in New York City. He’s been teaching us a ton of stuff every single week. To think about not having him out there with us, it hurts,” he said. 

Asked if he would try to get Billy out of retirement, Bowens said, “Billy is Billy, he’s going to do what he wants to do, we’ve been trying to talk to him.”

On the August 5 episode of AEW Collision, The Acclaimed said that Gunn was firm in his decision to remain retired. 

Fans can check out FIghtful’s review of AEW Collision with our post-show podcast by clicking here. 

If you use any of the quotes above, please credit the original source with a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.