by Billy and Chuck Not The Tag Team We Wanted But The Tag Team We Needed!
In October of 2000 Billy Gunn “Mr. Ass” returned from an absence after suffering a torn rotator cuff and missing action. He soon lost a feud with right to censor causing him to “censor” his Mr. Ass gimmick. After a run with the IC belt, he needed something new. With D-X, The New Age Outlaws, and Mr. Ass days behind him he was wrestling as “The One” Billy Gunn, which was nothing special.
After loosing to Chuck Palumbo on Sunday night heat, a guy who was kicked out of the Alliance and joined the WWE during the end of the Invasion story line, Billy Suggested that the form a tag team. And Thus Billy and Chuck was born! Adorning the matching red outfits and blond hair
Never thought of as one of the best tag teams in the history of the WWE but in all honesty, they were! 15-0 before loosing an actual match (not counting two losses to Stacy Keibler and Torrie Wilson in pose-down match) and there first loss was in a 3-way tag match to the then Champs of Tazz and Spike Dudley, after they Eliminated The APA!
They went on to win those titles holding them twice! With a final record of 38-10 when it was just the two of them and a total record of 40-12 in the end counting matches with Rico and or Jazz as third teammate (again not counting the 2 losses to Stacy and Torrie). Plus 6-2 defending their titles. Losing the tag title in the end to two hall of famers In Edge and Hulk Hogan.
But the biggest part of the Billy and Chuck story line was that they became increasingly affectionate toward each other, showing evidence of a homosexual relationship. They Even added Rico as their manager in the role of Personal Stylist. They would be come more and more Flamboyant till they took the gimmick to another level, with the help of GLAAD aka The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Chuck went down on bended knee and actually proposed to Billy by asking that Billy become his “partner for life.” Billy Gunn of course said yes. Appearing on talks shows such as the Today Show and Howard Stern Show.
Sep 12, 2002 episode of Smackdown “The Wedding of Billy and Chuck” of Course it being the WWE they had to make a mockery of it.. with Eric Bishoff and 3-minute warning invading smackdown and ending the whole thing with Rico leaving them to manage 3-minute warning. GLAAD Denounced the WWE for securing GLAAD’s assistance under false pretenses.
in 2013, Billy Gunn stated that he had no regrets over the Billy and Chuck storyline, feeling that it was his job to perform the gimmick as presented to him, and would do it again if asked to do it. In 2021 Chuck Palumbo revealed that he had no problem with the gimmick. He did admit however, that his then six-year-old daughter was confused with what was going on, and also revealed that Gunn’s sons Colten and Austin (both of whom were aware of kayfabe at that point) did have an issue with the gimmick.
Their final match together came on the October 3, 2002, episode of SmackDown! in the first round of a tournament for the newly created WWE Tag Team Championship. They lost the match to the team of Ron Simmons and Reverend D-Von. In the Match Billy Hurt his shoulder and they both went back to their previous gimmicks.
Continue to the next page for some awesome fan pictures with BILLY AND CHUCK!
