Monty Kip Sopp (born November 1, 1963), better known by his ring name Billy Gunn, is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to the WWE under a Legends contract and All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he also performs under the ring name Daddy Ass and serves as the on-screen manager for Anthony Bowens. He was a member of The Acclaimed as a manager and the team’s six-man tag team partner.
RELATED: Who is Bill Hemmer? Everything You Need To Know
Table of Contents
Billy Gunn Net Worth
Billy Gunn has a net worth of $500 thousand. He was born in Orlando, Florida in November 1963. After The Smoking Gunns disbanded, Gunn took some time off to recover from an injury.
At WrestleMania 13, he defeated Flash Funk, catching the attention of The Honky Tonk Man, who made Gunn his protégé. During this time, he adopted a new gimmick, Rockabilly, which he used throughout much of 1997 and eventually had a short-lived feud with “The Real Doub”.
Early Life
Gunn trained as a bull rider while attending Oviedo High School in Oviedo, Florida. After competing professionally in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, Monty Kip Sopp left bull riding in his early 20s to pursue a career in professional wrestling.
Trained by Jerry Gray, Sopp spent eight years on the independent circuit, including a brief role as enhancement talent for World Championship Wrestling (WCW). In 1993, he signed a contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), marking the start of his wrestling career.
Career
After weeks of vignettes, Monty Kip Sopp, under the name Billy Gunn, made his WWF debut on the May 17, 1993 episode of Raw, teaming with his on-screen brother, Bart Gunn, to defeat Tony Vadja and Glenn Ruth.
The duo, now known as The Smoking Gunns, made their pay-per-view debut at King of the Ring, teaming with The Steiner Brothers to defeat Money Inc. and The Headshrinkers in an eight-man tag team match. At SummerSlam, they teamed with Tatanka to win against Bam Bam Bigelow and The Headshrinkers. On January 22, 1994, Gunn entered his first Royal Rumble match.
Personal Life
Monty Kip Sopp married his first wife Tina Tinnell in 1990. They had two sons, Colten and Austin, both professional wrestlers currently working for All Elite Wrestling. Sopp and Tinnell separated in 2000 and finalized their divorce in December 2002.
Sopp later married his long-time girlfriend Paula on January 24, 2009. Sopp has revealed that he battles asthma and uses an inhaler. Before his professional wrestling career, Sopp studied agribusiness at Sam Houston State University.
Did Billy Gunn play football?
Billy Gunn played football in addition to being a professional cricketer. He was also a partner in the firm of Gunn & Moore, which he helped to found in 1885.
He lived in Nottingham all his life and died there of cancer on January 29, 1921. His nephews, George and John Gunn, also played for Nottinghamshire and England.
Conclusion
Billy Gunn’s journey from bull riding to wrestling royalty is a testament to his talent, hard work, and adaptability. With a rich career filled with memorable matches and significant achievements, his net worth is just one measure of his success in a life dedicated to wrestling.
RELATED: Who is Regina Lasko? All About David Letterman’s wife
FAQs about Billy Gunn
- What championships has Billy Gunn won in his career?
- Gunn has won multiple WWE Tag Team Championships, the Intercontinental Championship, and the Hardcore Championship, and was the 1999 King of the Ring.
- Has Billy Gunn appeared in any films or TV shows?
- Yes, Billy Gunn appeared in the film “The Other Guys,” “Double Fury,” and an episode of “Sabrina The Teenage Witch.”
- What is Billy Gunn’s role in AEW?
- In AEW, Billy Gunn competes as a wrestler, is a member of The Acclaimed, and holds the AEW World Trios Championship.
- How did Billy Gunn start his career?
- Billy Gunn began his career as a professional bull rider before transitioning to professional wrestling.
- What does Billy Gunn’s endorsement work involve?
- Billy Gunn has endorsed nutrition and supplement products, notably for BPI Sports, utilizing his fitness expertise and wrestling fame.
