Jim Ross Criticizes WWE For Mistreatment Of Billy Gunn

On a recent edition of his “Grilling JR” podcast, AEW host Jim Ross discussed several topics, including WWE stopping Billy Gunn’s singles push in 1999.

Below you can listen to some highlights from the podcast:

Why Gunn Didn’t Win the King of the Ring in 1999: “I don’t know. It’s a good question. It’s a really good question (that) you asked. But I don’t know why, unless someone made a decision late in the game in the seventh inning or the ninth inning, or whatever analogy you want to use. And the decision was made that, ‘Well, maybe we’re a little premature in this decision. Maybe we didn’t have someone who was quite ready for this. Maybe Billy wasn’t quite ready for this opportunity.’

“I disagree. I think that — I don’t know if we ever got everything out of Billy Gunn that he deserved, and we could have done more positive things. You don’t get someone who looks better, who’s bigger, stronger, faster. Has a physique, knows how to work. So physique, he had all the parts. But for some reason, the powers that be never developed the confidence in Billy that he probably deserved, honestly.”

On whether the idea of ​​the King of the Ring tournament in 1999 had paid off: “No, I don’t think so. It’s been around for a while, but I don’t think it’s had its day, Connie. I think it’s still a matter of who’s in it, who’s struggling with who, and how they’re performing. So no, I don’t think the ship has sailed.”