Billy Gunn scales back in-ring work amid back injuries

Billy Gunn, the 61-year-old AEW performer and WWE Hall of Famer, says the physical toll of more than three decades in the ring is shaping how often and how he wrestles. In a recent appearance on the Fuel Flex podcast, Gunn described persistent hip pain and two stress fractures in his back, said he has not wrestled on AEW television since May 2024, and explained that he is now selective about bookings and in-ring risks while continuing to work on the independent circuit and as a coach and producer for AEW.

Gunn traced much of his current discomfort to long years of repeated impact, saying that years of landing on the same spot have taken a toll on his hips. He added that his main concern is avoiding an injury that would prevent him from training, saying, "My biggest fear is that when I wrestle now, what I have to get past is, God I hope I don’t get hurt, I won’t be able to train." He described weightlifting and gym work as central to his routine and mental well-being, and said the prospect of being sidelined from that routine affects his approach to matches.

He also discussed specific medical issues. Speaking about squats, a staple of his workout regimen, Gunn said, "I have two...