Note On Billy Gunn’s AEW Hiatus Before Recent Return

Billy Gunn returned to AEW television last week on Collision. The veteran wrestler teamed up with his son, Austin Gunn, to take on Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita of The Don Callis Family.

This was Billy’s first televised match in All Elite Wrestling since the Double or Nothing 2024 Pre-Show, where he teamed up with Max Caster and Anthony Bowens to defeat Toa Liona, Bishop Kaun, and Brian Cage in a Trios match. Additionally, this was his first appearance on TV since the July 26, 2025, episode of AEW Collision.

In the latest Q&A session with Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp, a fan asked about the whereabouts of Billy Gunn before his latest appearance. Sapp said that Gunn has not been around AEW shows in recent times and had not been factored into creative plans. He noted that the former World Trios Champion was taken off television, as the company wanted to prominently feature younger talents. Sapp added that the veteran hadn’t been planned for the Acclaimed reunion and was only brought in because of last-minute changes to Collision tapings.

As reported previously, AEW canceled the scheduled live edition of Collision from Arlington, Texas, due to impending weather conditions and taped the show from Orlando following last Wednesday’s Dynamite. Austin Gunn was originally scheduled to team up with Juice Robinson and take on Takeshita and Fletcher. However, Robinson was ruled out due to medical issues, and Ace Austin was unable to make it to the show due to travel issues. This led to Billy joining his son to take on Protoshita.

Though he hasn’t been active in AEW, Billy has been wrestling fairly regularly on the independent circuit. He also worked a multi-man dark match before Dynamite this past Wednesday. That match notably featured Bishop Dyer.