He has been labeled by many as the best pure athlete in the business, while others stated it was only a matter of time before "Badd Ass" Billy Gunn would go onto attain greatness. Already a six-time World Wrestling Federation Tag-Team Champion (or perhaps seven in his mind since "borrowing" the gold from the Acolytes) and a former Hardcore Champion, the Texan was destined for glory. No one believed that more than Billy himself, who thanks to his enormously large ego, was perhaps overconfident. Or, it could have been that Mr. Ass knew he was just that talented.
This past Sunday at the Pay-Per-View, Mr. Ass overcame Ken Shamrock, Kane and X-Pac in the final round to become the 1999 King of the Ring—a title many thought was out of his reach with combatants such as the Big Show, Kane and Chyna heading up the favored-to-win list. The final four itself was three-fourths made up of former DX members, as Billy, Road Dogg and X-Pac all remained. However, with a little luck and a lot of talent "Badd Ass" came out on top…and now has a new world of potential open to him.
By winning the King of the Ring, Gunn’s stock will skyrocket in the Federation. In past years, all King of the Ring winners have enjoyed championship opportunities following their crowning. Some, like Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H, used their wins to break through to the next level of their careers while others didn’t quite live up to the hype.
The question is, which road will Mr. Ass take now that he is the 1999 winner? Will he go on to the preverbal "next level," or rest on his laurels? Chances are, Gunn is just too motivated and talented an athlete to let this opportunity pass him by. Cut out of the same mold as a Stone Cold and Hunter, "Mr. Ass" may very well walk in the former Kings’ footsteps.
However, Billy’s celebration might be rudely interrupted by the Acolytes—and Bradshaw and particular—who have vowed to reclaim their possession. With two destructive monsters on his heels, King Ass would be wise to reconsider his current situation. After all, does he really want to be the target of the Acolytes when there’s a new world of other championship opportunity open to him?
