Billy Gunn Biography: Wife, Children, Age, Height, Net Worth, Wrestling Career, Parents

Monty Kip Sopp, professionally known as Billy Gunn, is an American professional wrestler.

He first rose to prominence in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, later WWE) as the cocky cowboy half of The Smoking Gunns tag team, but truly cemented his legacy alongside Road Dogg in the irreverent New Age Outlaws and the rebellious D-Generation X faction.

Gunn’s blend of athletic prowess, sharp mic skills, and unapologetic charisma propelled him to multiple championship reigns, including 11 tag team titles, a King of the Ring victory, and a WWE Hall of Fame induction, while his current role in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as Daddy Ass keeps him mentoring the next wave of stars.

Profile

• Full Name: Monty Kip Sopp
• Stage Name: Billy Gunn
• Born: November 1, 1963
• Age: 62 years old
• Birthplace: Orlando, Florida, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Professional Wrestler
• Height: 1.94m
• Parents: Mr. Sopp and Mrs. Sopp
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Paula Heaney-Sopp (m. 2009–present), Tina Tinnell (m. 1990–2002)
• Children: Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $3 million

Early Life and Education

Monty Kip Sopp came into the world on November 1, 1963, in Orlando, Florida, to parents referred to as Mr. Sopp and Mrs. Sopp.

He might have had siblings but details about them are unknown.

Sopp channeled his energy into bull riding during high school at Oviedo High School, competing professionally in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association through his early twenties before hanging up his spurs.

He pursued no formal higher education, instead channeling his focus straight into wrestling training under Jerry Gray.

He is of white ethnicity, though his religion is not publicly known.

Career

Monty Kip Sopp kicked off his wrestling journey in 1989 after ditching the rodeo circuit, honing his craft on the independent scene and even dipping into World Championship Wrestling as jobber talent.

He signed with the World Wrestling Federation in 1993, debuting as the brash Billy Gunn and quickly pairing with his kayfabe brother Bart Gunn to form The Smoking Gunns, a cowboy-themed duo that captured the WWF Tag Team Championship three times between 1995 and 1996.

Their high-energy matches against teams like The Godwinns and Owen Hart & Yokozuna showcased Gunn’s raw athleticism and ring savvy, earning him early fan loyalty and setting the stage for bigger spotlights amid the Attitude Era’s rising tide.

Gunn’s trajectory exploded in the late 1990s when he teamed with Road Dogg Jesse James as The New Age Outlaws, injecting hip-hop flair and trash-talk into the tag division to snag five WWF Tag Team Championships and become the first to hold the brand new WWF Hardcore Championship for a full day.

He joined D-Generation X in 1997, amplifying his rebel persona with antics that blurred lines between performer and provocateur, and peaked as a singles star by winning the 1999 King of the Ring tournament—his coronation moment—followed by a brief WWF Intercontinental Championship reign.

A later pairing with Chuck Palumbo as the flamboyant Billy and Chuck added two more tag titles, while stints in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling from 2005 to 2009 under the Kip James moniker kept his momentum alive through faction warfare and midcard pushes.

Monty Kip Sopp returned to WWE in 2012 as a trainer on Tough Enough and NXT, molding talents like Drew McIntyre while making sporadic in-ring cameos, including a 2014 tag title win with Road Dogg and brief DX reunions that led to his 2019 Hall of Fame induction.

He jumped to All Elite Wrestling that same year as a coach and performer, evolving into Daddy Ass as the hype man and third wheel for The Acclaimed, where he claimed the inaugural AEW World Trios Championship in 2022 and holds the longest reign at over 200 days.

Gunn’s blueprint for tag innovation and backstage guidance shapes AEW’s locker room, bridging eras with a presence that demands respect from rookies and rivals alike.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @realbillygunn
• Facebook Handle: Billy Gunn
• Twitter Handle: @RealBillyGunn

Personal Life

Billy Gunn was previously married to Tina Tinnell on March 3, 1990, building a family that includes sons Austin and Colten Gunn before their split in 2002 amid the grind of his traveling schedule.

He finds stability with Paula Heaney-Sopp, tying the knot on January 24, 2009, and the pair support each other’s worlds—her in equine therapy, him chasing wrestling dreams—while keeping their home life steady in Texas.

Net Worth

Billy Gunn has an estimated net worth of $3 million.

He stacks this through landmark WWE runs with championship bonuses and merchandise cuts, AEW coaching salaries paired with Trios title earnings, plus video game likeness deals and convention gigs that tap into his enduring fan pull.