"The first time I hear that, I'll quit" - WWE Hall of Famer addresses potential retirement in AEW

AEW has hosted several WWE legends and Hall of Famers throughout its first five years, but few have had as big an impact backstage as Billy Gunn. The former D-Generation X member has been a head coach and on-screen talent since the promotion's early days, and he recently discussed a potential retirement from active competition.

Billy Gunn was named AEW's head coach in 2019, but the 60-year-old still found time to hit the ring and remind fans why he's an Attitude Era legend. In 2022, he joined The Acclaimed and helped his real-life sons, Austin and Colten Gunn, gain some momentum.

Gunn recently appeared on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, where he discussed a potential retirement. The 60-year-old legend doesn't know when it will happen, but he feels that he can continue for as long as he feels good:

"I wish I knew; I don’t feel too bad. But a lot of it is the way that I take care of myself. I mean, yeah, do I wake up and everything until I get moving? Yeah. I just found out I have two stress fractures in my back, but they don’t stop me from doing what I do; it doesn’t hinder me. But I can still do what I do at a pretty good level."

Gunn noted that he won't be putting on instant classics with AEW's top stars at this stage of his career, but as long as he still has something to offer, there's no reason for him to retire:

"I’m not gonna go out there and go 25 minutes with Will [Ospreay]; that ain’t happening. But do I still have equity in the company? Can I still bring something? Damn right I can, because the minute I step out there, those people go nuts, and they start saying my name. So as long as I bring value and it’s not, you know, if I go out there and they go, Oh God, really? The first time I hear that, I’ll quit. But as long as I can do something to help The Acclaimed or help the company or help my kids, yeah, I’ll stay around. There’s no reason I can’t. I have no problem just being The Acclaimed’s sidekick. I love it." [H/T: Chrisvanvliet.com]

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Billy Gunn is a huge fan of AEW International Champion Will Ospreay

Will Ospreay lost his AEW World Championship challenge against Swerve Strickland at Forbidden Door 2024, but it's clear that the British star is a major component of the Jacksonville-based promotion's future plans.

He may also be a part of Billy Gunn's future plans. Ospreay has stated that he would like to be the one to retire the WWE Hall of Famer, and Gunn seems to love the 31-year-old enough to let it happen.

In the same interview with Chris Van Vliet, Gunn expressed his admiration for The Aerial Assassin:

"I don’t know what it is about that kid [Will Ospreay]. I love him; I tell everybody that’s my retirement match. When I retire, it’s me and Will, and he just said on some media scrum that he’s in AEW to retire me. Because his work really isn’t me. It’s so opposite of me. But I love him. He’s good. He’s very energetic. Just the stuff he does is amazing. He’s so athletic and could do so much stuff. But he has charisma with it, and he’s very good at that. And I love that; I don’t know, I just love that kid," he said.

Billy Gunn is 60 years old but still seems to have a lot left in the tank. Whether the legendary star will stick with The Acclaimed until the end of his run or strike off on a new path remains to be seen.