Billy Gunn made a 37-year wrestling career look almost indestructible, but his body has taken some serious punishment along the way.
During a conversation with Denise Salcedo, the WWE Hall of Famer opened up about the worst injuries of his career. Gunn revealed that he broke his neck in 1995 and later suffered a devastating shoulder injury during a table spot involving Bubba Ray Dudley. The shoulder injury became the longest setback of Gunn’s career and forced him out of action for more than a year.
“In ’95, I broke my neck and had to get some stuff done. Then, when I went through the table with Bubba Dudley, I ripped my shoulder out. That was probably my worst one and my longest one because I was out for a little over a year.”
Gunn said doctors had to remove several damaged parts from his shoulder following the incident. Despite the severity of the injury, he eventually returned and continued wrestling for decades. He also acknowledged that injuries are part of the price wrestlers pay after spending years landing on unforgiving rings, floors and tables.
Gunn believes getting older forced him to become smarter about recovery. Things such as stretching, massages and properly listening to his body were not always priorities earlier in his career, but they became essential as the years piled up. Breaking his neck and destroying his shoulder could have ended Gunn’s career at two different points. Instead, he recovered, reinvented himself and remained active long enough to wrestle alongside an entirely new generation.
Were you surprised to learn that Billy Gunn once broke his neck and missed more than a year with a shoulder injury? Share your reaction and leave your feedback in the comments.
