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Billy and Chuck

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Billy and Chuck
Tag team
MembersBilly[1]
Chuck[1]
Rico(manager)[1]
Name(s)Billy and Chuck
Chuck and Billy
Billed heightsBilly:
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Chuck:
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Combined
billed weight		534 lb (242 kg; 38.1 st)[2]
Billed fromHollywood, California
DebutNovember 2001[1]
DisbandedSeptember 2002
Years active2001–2002

Billy and Chuckwere aprofessional wrestlingtag teamofBilly GunnandChuck Palumbowho performed inWorld Wrestling Federation/Entertainment(WWF/WWE) from 2001 to 2002.[1]They were two-timeWWE World Tag Team Champions.The two men were depicted as a same-sex couple leading to controversy from hate groups, but praise from equality groups.

History[edit]

World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment[edit]

Near the end of theInvasionstoryline, Chuck (Palumbo) was kicked out ofthe Alliance.In response, he defected to the WWF where he began teaming with Billy (Gunn) in an affront to the Alliance. After the Invasion ended, the duo was turnedheel.

A storyline began in which Billy and Chuck became increasingly affectionate toward each other,[2]showing evidence of ahomosexualrelationship.[3]The duo adopted matching red ring gear and bleached their hair with Chuck beginning to wearpigtails,although Chuck would later cut his hair short due to the bleach affecting his hair negatively. Developmental talentRicowas placed in the role of their crafty"personal stylist".[2]Billy and Chuck would win theWWF Tag Team Championshipson two occasions,[2]and primarily feud with theAPAand theHardy Boyz.

In September 2002, Chuck proposedlife partnershipto Billy, and Billy accepted.[4]Their ceremony was aired on the September 12 episode ofSmackDown!.[5]During thecommitment ceremony,Gunn and Palumbo revealed that the ceremony was merely a publicity stunt that had gone too far, and they admitted they were strictly hetero.[5]Eric Bischoff,who had disguised himself as the priest officiating the wedding, and3-Minute WarningfromRawthen led an attack onStephanie McMahon,the General Manager of SmackDown! who was also present at the ceremony.[5]Following this incident, Rico defected toRawand managed 3-Minute Warning.[1]Billy and Chuck remained a team, turning face and dropping all facets of their gay-sweetheartgimmick.

Billy and Chuck's final match together occurred onSmackDown!in the first round of a tournament for the newly createdWWE Tag Team Championship.[1]They lost the match to the team ofRon SimmonsandReverend D-Von.[6]Gunn received a shoulder injury during the match, and was taken off television.[1]The team quietly separated with Chuck going into singles competition and later theFull Blooded Italians;and Billy returned with his Mr. Ass gimmick.[1]

Reception[edit]

TheGay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation,which had consulted with WWE on the storyline and helped the angle secure mainstream media coverage, denounced WWE for securing GLAAD's assistance under false pretenses. "The WWE lied to us two months ago when they promised that Billy and Chuck would come out and wed on the air."[3]The gimmick would be in sharp contrast to then-current WWE performerDarren Younglegitimatelycoming outover a decade later toTMZ,which was received with open arms and also led to other openlyLGBTwrestlers in mainstream wrestling includingSonya DeVille,Anthony Bowens,Nyla Rose,Sonny Kiss,Kiera Hogan,andMercedes Martinez.[7][8]

In ashootinterview 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.[9]

Echoing Gunn's comments, in 2021 Chuck Palumbo revealed toChris Van Vlietthat he had no problem with the gimmick, unlike some of his cohorts. Palumbo told those cohorts that all wrestlers are actors in some capacity and had no issue with the gimmick whatsoever. 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, theAss BoysColtenandAustin(both of whom were aware ofkayfabeat that point) did have an issue with the gimmick.[10]

However, on an episode of CCV withChris Van Vliet,Austin and Colton revealed they loved the gimmick. [2]

Championships and accomplishments[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdefghi"Billy and Chuck Profile".Online World Of Wrestling.Retrieved2008-08-03.
  2. ^abcdShields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009).WWE Encyclopedia.DK.p.31.ISBN978-0-7566-4190-0.
  3. ^abReynolds, R.D.; Baer, Randy (2003).WrestleCrap: The Very Worst of Pro Wrestling.ECW Press.ISBN978-1-55022-584-6.
  4. ^"WWE SmackDown! Results – September 5, 2002".Online World Of Wrestling. 2002-09-05.Retrieved2008-08-03.
  5. ^abc"WWE SmackDown! Results – September 12, 2002".Online World Of Wrestling. 2002-09-12.Retrieved2008-08-03.
  6. ^"WWE SmackDown! Results – October 3, 2002".Online World Of Wrestling. 2002-10-03.Retrieved2008-08-03.
  7. ^"WWE wrestler Darren Young comes out as gay".Telegraph.16 August 2013.Archivedfrom the original on January 12, 2022.RetrievedAugust 25,2013.
  8. ^"Darren Young and Superstars discuss his revelation about his sexual orientation".RetrievedAugust 5,2016.
  9. ^"(55 Min Shoot) Billy Gunn:" Do I want to pick up the phone every day and call (Triple H) to apologize? Yeah. Because that was something I did out of selfishness. "".Archived fromthe originalon 2013-09-21.Retrieved2013-09-19.
  10. ^[1][dead link]
  11. ^"Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners – Tag Team of the Year".Wrestling Information Archive. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-05-16.Retrieved2008-08-04.
  12. ^"Billy and Chuck's first World Tag Team Championship reign".WWE.Archived fromthe originalon 2012-10-24.Retrieved2012-01-01.
  13. ^"Billy and Chuck's second World Tag Team Championship reign".WWE.Archived fromthe originalon 2012-10-24.Retrieved2012-01-01.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Billy_and_Chuck&oldid=1233134241"