Colten Gunn

Last updated

Colten Gunn
Colten Gunn, June 2022 (cropped).jpg
Colten Gunn in June 2022
Birth nameColten Sopp [1]
Born (1991-05-18) May 18, 1991 (age 33) [1]
Orlando, Florida, U.S. [2]
Alma mater Florida State University
Parent(s) Billy Gunn (father) [3]
Family Austin Gunn (brother) [3]
Professional wrestling career
Billed fromOrlando, Florida
Trained byBilly Gunn [2]
DebutNovember 11, 2020;3 years ago (2020-11-11) [4]

Colten Sopp (born May 18, 1991), better known by the ring name Colten Gunn, is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he teams with his brother Austin as the Gunns, and is a member of Bang Bang Gang. The Gunns are currently two-thirds of the Unified World Trios Champions (AEW World Trios Champions and ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champions) in their first reign with stablemate Jay White; Gunn is also a former one-time AEW World Tag Team Champion. Sopp is a second-generation professional wrestler, being the son of professional wrestler Monty Sopp, better known as Billy Gunn.

Contents

Early life

Sopp attended Florida State University, graduating in 2013. Prior to becoming a professional wrestler, he worked in the construction industry in Southern California. [5]

Professional wrestling career

All Elite Wrestling / Ring of Honor (2020–present)

Gunn Club (2020–2022)

Sopp was trained to wrestle by his father, Billy Gunn. On June 17, 2020, he appeared with the Jacksonville, Florida-based promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW), accompanying his father to ringside for his match against MJF on AEW Dynamite and being confronted by Friedman's bodyguard Wardlow. [6] [7] Later that month, Sopp's father filed a trademark for "Colten Gunn". [8] On episode #53 of the web television show AEW Dark , which aired on September 22, Sopp accompanied his father and his brother to ringside for a tag team match. [9]

Sopp made his professional wrestling debut with AEW on November 11, 2020 as "Colten Gunn", teaming with his father and his brother Austin (as "Gunn Club") to defeat BSHP King, Joey O'Riley, and Sean Maluta in a six-man tag team match. [1] The match was broadcast on episode #62 of AEW Dark on November 17, 2020. [4] He returned in the following weeks, teaming with his father and brother in further six-man tag team matches and tag team matches. [10] [11] [12] As part of Gunn Club, Gunn became a member of Cody Rhodes' Nightmare Family stable. On the March 3, 2021 episode of AEW Dynamite, Gunn Club were at ringside for a tag team match pitting Rhodes and Red Velvet against Shaquille O'Neal and Jade Cargill; during the match, Austin Gunn attacked O'Neal at ringside, prompting him to beat down Austin and Colten. [13] Gunn wrestled his first match on pay-per-view at Revolution on March 7, 2021, competing alongside Austin in a "casino" tag team battle royal. [14] Throughout the remainder of 2021, Gunn primarily teamed with his father in tag team bouts on AEW Dark and AEW Dark: Elevation . [15] Gunn wrestled his first match on AEW Dynamite on August 25, 2021, teaming with his father and brother to defeat The Factory in a six-man tag team match. [16]

On the September 1, 2021 episode of AEW Dynamite, the Gunn Club turned heel by attacking Paul Wight. [17] In November 2021, the Gunn Club began a short feud with Darby Allin and Sting that saw Colten sustain his first defeat on the December 1, 2021 episode of Dynamite when he was pinned by Sting; [18] [19] this loss also marked the end of the Gunn Club's undefeated streak in AEW. [20] On February 9, 2022, in a match which would air two days later on AEW Rampage , Colten and Austin Gunn wrestled for the AEW World Tag Team Championship, losing to reigning champions Jurassic Express. [21] In May 2022, the Gunn Club formed an alliance with the Acclaimed which lasted until July 2022 when the Gunn Club turned on the Acclaimed; on the August 3, 2022 episode of Dynamite, the Acclaimed defeated the Gunn Club in a dumpster match. [22] [23]

The Firm; Bullet Club Gold/Bang Bang Gang (2022–present)

On the August 17, 2022 episode of Dynamite, Colten and Austin turned on their father, aligning themselves with Stokely Hathaway; [24] the following week, Colten defeated his father in a singles match following a low blow. [25] In September 2022, the Gunns formed a new stable, "the Firm", with Hathaway, MJF, Ethan Page, Lee Moriarty, and W. Morrissey. [26] [27] The following month, the Firm attacked MJF after he fired Hathaway. [28] On the February 8, 2023 episode of Dynamite, the Gunns defeated the Acclaimed to win their first AEW World Tag Team Championship. [29] At Revolution in March 2023, the Gunns successfully defended their titles in a four way match against the Acclaimed, Danhausen and Orange Cassidy, and Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett. [30] On the April 5, 2023 episode of Dynamite, the Gunns lost the AEW World Tag Team Championship to FTR in a title versus career match. [30] The Firm formally disbanded in May 2023 after losing a match dubbed "Firm Deletion". [31]

In June 2023, the Gunns joined Bullet Club Gold alongside Jay White and Juice Robinson. [32] On the January 17, 2024 episode of Dynamite, the Gunns and White defeated Mogul Embassy to win the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship. [33] In the same month, the Gunns and White joined forces with the Acclaimed and Billy Gunn to form a new stable, the "Bang Bang Scissor Gang". [34] At Revolution in March 2024, the Bang Bang Scissor Gang defeated Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett, Satnam Singh, Willie Mack, and Private Party in a 12-man tag team match. [33] Later that month, the Bang Bang Scissor Gang disbanded after White and the Gunns attacked the Acclaimed and Billy Gunn. [34] On April 5 at Supercard of Honor, Colten made his Ring of Honor (ROH) debut, teaming with Austin and White to retain the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship against Monstersauce (Lance Archer and Alex Zayne) and Minoru Suzuki. [33] At Dynasty on April 21, 2024, Bullet Club Gold defeated AEW World Trios Champions The Acclaimed in a winner takes all championship unification match to unify the titles as the Unified World Trios Championship. [35] [36] During this time, Bullet Club Gold silently renamed to the Bang Bang Gang. [37]

Independent circuit (2021–present)

Gunn made his independent circuit debut in September 2021, appearing with Battleground Championship Wrestling in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [15] In October 2021, the Gunn Club participated in "Chris Jericho's Rock 'N' Wrestling Rager at Sea Triple Whammy", a professional wrestling event held aboard the Norwegian Jewel . [15] In March 2022 on New South Wrestling's "Resurrection" pay-per-view, Gunn won his first title, teaming with Austin Gunn to defeat TME for the NSW Tag Team Championship. The Gunn Club lost the titles to the Bad News Boyz later that month. [38]

Professional wrestling style and persona

Gunn's finisher is the Colt 45, a butterfly neckbreaker. [10] He previously used a leg drop bulldog, also called the Colt 45; adopted from his father Billy Gunn, who named it the Fame-Ass-Er. [39] [40] Gunn and his brother Austin/his father also use the 3:10 to Yuma as a double-team maneuver: a back body drop by Colton into a neckbreaker by Austin/Billy. [41] [42]

Personal life

Sopp is the son of professional wrestler Monty Sopp, known as Billy Gunn. His brother Austin Sopp is also a professional wrestler. [3]

Championships and accomplishments

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Gunn</span> American professional wrestler

Monty "Kip" Sopp, better known by his ring name Billy Gunn, is an American professional wrestler and coach currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he also performs under the ring name Daddy Ass. He is a member of The Acclaimed as a manager and the team's six-man tag team partner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship</span> American professional wrestling title

The ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling championship owned by the Ring of Honor (ROH) promotion. Bang Bang Gang are the current champions in their first reign as a team. They won the title by defeating The Mogul Embassy on the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) program Dynamite on January 17, 2024. After winning the AEW World Trios Championship at AEW Dynasty: Zero Hour on April 21, 2024, Bullet Club Gold unified the titles and are referred to as the Unified World Trios Champions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay White</span> New Zealand professional wrestler

Jamie White, better known by the ring name Jay White, is a New Zealand-Dutch professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is the leader of Bang Bang Gang with stablemates The Gunns and Juice Robinson. With the Gunns, White is currently one-third of the Unified World Trios Champions in their first reign. Prior to signing with AEW, White had a decorated career in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) as the first ever NJPW Grand Slam Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethan Page</span> Canadian professional wrestler (born 1989)

Julian Micevski, better known by his ring name Ethan Page, is a Canadian professional wrestler. He has worked with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), Ring of Honor (ROH), and Impact Wrestling and is noted for his partnership with Josh Alexander as The North. He and Alexander have won multiple tag team championships in several independent promotions, and are two-time Impact World Tag Team Champions, with their first reign the longest ever reign in the history of the championships. In AEW, Page teamed with Scorpio Sky as Men of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Jericho's Rock 'N' Wrestling Rager at Sea</span> Professional wrestling themed cruise

Chris Jericho's Rock 'N' Wrestling Rager at Sea is a series of cruise ship experiences held by professional wrestler and rock musician Chris Jericho. The experience features professional wrestling events, musical concerts, stand-up comedy, and podcasts. The original cruise took place in October 2018. Two months later, Jericho confirmed there would be a second cruise to be held in 2020. Jericho partnered with Ring of Honor to hold the cruise's wrestling event in 2018 and with All Elite Wrestling for his 2020 and 2021 cruise. There is currently a sixth cruise scheduled for January 31 – February 4, 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darby Allin</span> American professional wrestler

Samual Ratsch, better known by the ring name Darby Allin, is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) where he is a former two-time AEW TNT Champion and former one-time AEW World Tag Team Champion. Ratsch is also known for his appearances in World Wrestling Network promotions, wrestling for Evolve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austin Gunn</span> American professional wrestler

Austin Sopp, better known by the ring name Austin Gunn, is an American professional wrestler and reality television personality, currently signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) where he and his brother, Colten, team up as The Gunns. The Gunns are also members of the Bang Bang Gang stable, and currently hold the Unified World Trios Championship with Bang Bang Gang leader Jay White in their first reigns. He is a former one-time AEW World Tag Team Champion. Sopp is a second-generation professional wrestler, as he is the son of professional wrestler Monty Sopp, better known as Billy Gunn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange Cassidy</span> American professional wrestler (born 1984)

James Cipperly, better known by his ring name Orange Cassidy, is an American professional wrestler and wrestling trainer. He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a two-time former AEW International Champion. His first reign is the longest in the title's history. Cassidy is also a member of the Best Friends stable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Gunns</span> Professional wrestling tag team

The Gunns - also derogatorily nicknamed the Ass Boys - are a professional wrestling tag team consisting of real-life brothers Austin and Colten Gunn, who are the sons of professional wrestler Billy Gunn. They are currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where they are members of Bang Bang Gang. They are currently two-thirds of the Unified World Trios Champions in their first reign with stable mate Jay White. The Gunns are former one-time AEW World Tag Team Champions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Powerhouse Hobbs</span> American professional wrestler

William Hobson, better known by the ring name Powerhouse Hobbs, is an American professional wrestler signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a member of the Don Callis Family stable. He is a former AEW TNT Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Bowens</span> American professional wrestler

Anthony Bowens is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) where he is a member of The Acclaimed. He is a former one-time AEW World Tag Team Champion and one-time and longest reigning AEW World Trios Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Max Caster</span> American professional wrestler (born 1989)

Max Caster is an American professional wrestler and rapper, currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he competes in a tag team with Anthony Bowens as The Acclaimed. He is a former one-time AEW World Trios Champions and one-time AEW World Tag Team Champions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Williams (guitarist)</span> American guitarist and professional wrestler

Andrew J. Williams is an American musician and professional wrestler, best known as the former rhythm guitarist of the metalcore band Every Time I Die. As a professional wrestler, he is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) under the ring name the Butcher, where he is one-half of a tag team with the Blade.

Nicholas Comoroto is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Comoroto began his career in 2013 on the independent circuit. In 2019, he signed a development contract with WWE, but was released the next year as part of a series of budget cuts stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, joining AEW later that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darius Martin</span> American professional wrestler (born 1999)

Darius Martin is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He also makes appearances for AEW's sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH). He performs alongside his younger brother Dante Martin as part of the tag team Top Flight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AEW World Trios Championship</span> Mens professional wrestling trios tag team championship

The AEW World Trios Championship is a men's professional wrestling world tag team championship created and promoted by the American promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW). It is a specialized tag team championship, being contested by teams of three wrestlers, referred to as trios. Established on July 27, 2022, the inaugural champions were The Elite. The current champions are Bang Bang Gang, who are in their first reign, both as a team and individually. They won the title by defeating The Acclaimed in a Winners Take All unification match also for Bullet Club Gold's ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship during Dynasty: Zero Hour on April 21, 2024; with both titles, Bullet Club Gold are referred to as the Unified World Trios Champions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Davis (wrestler)</span> Professional wrestler

Davis Passfield, better known by his in-ring name Mark Davis, is an Australian professional wrestler. He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He also appears in its sister company Ring of Honor (ROH), where he is a former one-time ROH World Tag Team Champion. He also appears for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a former IWGP Tag Team Champion, and record-setting and inaugural two-time Strong Openweight Tag Team Champion and Revolution Pro Wrestling, where he is a former two-time Undisputed British Tag Team Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aussie Open (professional wrestling)</span> Professional wrestling tag team

Aussie Open are an Australian professional wrestling tag team, consisting of Mark Davis and Kyle Fletcher. They are currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), and also wrestle for AEW’s sister company Ring of Honor (ROH), where they are former ROH World Tag Team Champions and Fletcher is the current ROH World Television Champion, in his first reign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Acclaimed</span> Professional wrestling tag team

The Acclaimed are an American professional wrestling stable currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). The faction consists of Max Caster and Anthony Bowens – who comprise the main tag team of the group – and Billy Gunn, who serves as their manager and wrestles as their partner for six-man tag team matches. Bowens and Caster are former one-time AEW World Tag Team Champions and all three are former one-time and the longest-reigning AEW World Trios Champions.

Kevin Knight is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). He also makes appearances for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) where he is a former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Colten Gunn". ProFightDB.com. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Kreikenbohm, Philip (January 2021). "Colten Gunn". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Hetrick, Luke (April 4, 2020). "Gunn Club carries on wrestling family's legacy". News 13 . Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Klyn, Parker (November 17, 2020). "AEW Dark results: Evans vs. Daniels, Britt Baker segment debut". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  5. PG, Andy (May 24, 2021). "AEW Elevation: May 24, 2021". BlogOfDoom.com. Retrieved May 25, 2021. Then Colten wanted to try it to [sic], as he gave up being a Southern Cal construction worker to step into the ring.
  6. AEW staff (June 18, 2020). "AEW Dynamite results for June 17, 2020". AllEliteWrestling.com . All Elite Wrestling . Retrieved January 20, 2021. MJF (with Wardlow) vs. Billy, leader of The Gunn Club (accompanied by Austin & Colten Gunn).
  7. Renner, Ethan (June 17, 2020). "AEW Dynamite live results: tag titles, TNT Championship on the line". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved December 1, 2020. Wardlow went after Austin and Colten on the floor.
  8. Lee, Joseph (June 29, 2020). "Billy Gunn files for trademarks for 'Sons of a Gunn' and 'Colten Gunn'". 411Mania.com. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  9. Klyn, Parker (September 22, 2020). "AEW Dark results: Kingston vs. Pillman Jr., Carter vs. Johnson". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  10. 1 2 Klyn, Parker (December 22, 2020). "AEW Dark results: Miro vs. Sonny Kiss, SCU makes a big decision". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved December 23, 2020. He followed it up with the Colt .45 (a double underhook swinging suplex) for the victory.
  11. Klyn, Parker (December 8, 2020). "AEW Dark results: Varsity Blondes vs. Dark Order's Cabana and Reynolds". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  12. Klyn, Parker (December 1, 2020). "AEW Dark results: Jurassic Express vs. Dark Order vs. Janela and Kiss". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  13. Klyn, Parker (March 3, 2021). "AEW Dynamite live results: Shaq & Jade Cargill vs. Cody & Red Velvet". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved March 6, 2021. Cargill provoked Cody into knocking Shaq off the apron, where he was met with a chair shot from Austin Gunn. Shaq ran wild on the Nightmare Family, including both Gunn children...
  14. Nason, Josh (March 7, 2021). "Pac & Rey Fenix win casino tag team royale at AEW Revolution". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  15. 1 2 3 Kreikenbohm, Philip (2021). "Colten Gunn - matches - 2021". Cagematch.net. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  16. Klyn, Parker (August 25, 2021). "AEW Dynamite live results: CM Punk's Dynamite debut". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  17. Klyn, Parker (September 1, 2021). "AEW Dynamite live results: 100th episode". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  18. Collins, Joseph (November 19, 2021). "AEW Rampage live results: Cole & Fish vs. Jurassic Express". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  19. Klyn, Parker (December 1, 2021). "AEW Dynamite live results: Cody Rhodes vs. Andrade El Idolo". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  20. DeFelice, Robert (December 2, 2021). "Sting and Darby break Gunn Club's streak, Lee Moriarty tests CM Punk, Danielson wins". Fightful.com. Retrieved February 3, 2022.[ permanent dead link ]
  21. Rose, Bryan (February 10, 2022). "AEW Rampage spoilers from Atlantic City, New Jersey". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  22. Klyn, Parker (July 6, 2022). "AEW Dynamite live results: Jon Moxley vs. Brody King Interim World title match". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  23. Klyn, Parker (August 3, 2022). "AEW Dynamite live results: Chris Jericho vs. Wheeler Yuta". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  24. Klyn, Parker (August 17, 2022). "AEW Dynamite live results: Game of Thrones 'House of the Dragon' episode". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  25. Klyn, Parker (August 24, 2022). "AEW Dynamite live results: CM Punk vs. Jon Moxley undisputed title match". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  26. Nason, Josh (September 5, 2022). "MJF returns, CM Punk regains AEW World title at All Out". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  27. Howard, Ryan (September 14, 2022). "AEW Dynamite live results: Grand Slam Tournament of Champions semifinals". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  28. Howard, Ryan (October 26, 2022). "AEW Dynamite live results: Jon Moxley vs. Penta El Zero Miedo World title match". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  29. 1 2 Renner, Ethan (February 8, 2023). "The Gunns crowned AEW Tag Team Champions on Dynamite". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  30. 1 2 Kreikenbohm, Philip (2023). "Colten Gunn - matches - 2023". Cagematch.net. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  31. Clark, Ryan (May 6, 2023). "Team Hardy defeats the Firm in 'Firm Deletion match' on AEW Rampage". EWrestlingNews.com. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  32. Rose, Bryan (July 1, 2023). "The Gunns officially join Bullet Club Gold on AEW Collision". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  33. 1 2 3 Kreikenbohm, Philip (2024). "Colten Gunn - matches - 2024". Cagematch.net. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  34. 1 2 Applegate, C. J. (March 13, 2024). "Bang Bang Scissor Gang implodes on 3/13 AEW Dynamite: Big Business". WrestleZone.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  35. 1 2 3 "Bullet Club Gold are the Unified World Trios Champions". AllEliteWrestling.com . April 21, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  36. Miller, Haley (April 21, 2024). "Bullet Club Gold become the inaugural Unified World Trios Champions at AEW Dynasty". ComicBook.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  37. "Bang Bang Gang vs. Death Triangle Set For AEW Double Or Nothing". Yahoo Entertainment. May 23, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  38. Kreikenbohm, Philip (2022). "Colten Gunn - matches - 2022". Cagematch.net. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  39. Klyn, Parker (November 24, 2020). "AEW Dark results: Dark Order vs. Janela/Kiss vs. Chaos Project". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved November 25, 2020. Colten hit his version of the Fameasser (called the Colt .45) for his first pinfall victory.
  40. Moynahan, Patrick (November 25, 2020). "11/24 AEW Dark TV report". PWTorch.com . Retrieved November 25, 2020. Colten followed it up with a Colt 45 (Fameasser) for the win.
  41. Collins, Joseph (January 20, 2021). "AEW Dark results: Lucha Bros, Acclaimed, Top Flight, Private Party". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved January 20, 2021. Colton (sic) and Austin finished Morales with the 3:10 to Zuma, basically a backdrop into a neckbreaker.
  42. Collins, Joseph (February 2, 2021). "AEW Dark results: SCU vs. Chaos Project, Rey Fenix vs. KC Navarro". F4WOnline.com . Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  43. "AEW World Tag Team Championship history". AllEliteWrestling.com . All Elite Wrestling . Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  44. Kreikenbohm, Philip (March 2022). "NSW Resurrection". Cagematch.net. Retrieved March 28, 2022.