| Revision as of 00:26, 19 November 2006 editYamamoto Ichiro (talk | contribs)47,174 editsm Reverted edits by 24.188.188.232 (talk) to last version by Tim Long← Previous edit | Revision as of 04:53, 19 November 2006 edit undoBooyakaDell (talk | contribs)1,114 edits removed totally irrelevent/non notable info; Kip has wrestled overseas before, not every pormootion he's worked for deserves a sectionNext edit → | ||
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| On the ], 2006 edition of ], Kip and B.G. James said they were going to quit. Kip James grabbed the mic and tried to say something to the TNA administration and Spike TV but each time his mic was cut off. Kip then tried to use the announcer's headset, but it was cut off as well. Frustrated, he started yelling loudly to the crowd but he was cut off as the show went to a commercial break. When the show returned, the announcers speculated that they may have been frustrated due to the influx of new talent entering TNA. It was reported recently that the segment was a ] that ] had written in order to renew interest upon their eventual return. <ref>{{cite web | url = | On the ], 2006 edition of ], Kip and B.G. James said they were going to quit. Kip James grabbed the mic and tried to say something to the TNA administration and Spike TV but each time his mic was cut off. Kip then tried to use the announcer's headset, but it was cut off as well. Frustrated, he started yelling loudly to the crowd but he was cut off as the show went to a commercial break. When the show returned, the announcers speculated that they may have been frustrated due to the influx of new talent entering TNA. It was reported recently that the segment was a ] that ] had written in order to renew interest upon their eventual return. <ref>{{cite web | url = | ||
| http://rajah.com/base/node/6675 | title = TNA Interested In Trish Stratus; TNA Site Hacked, James Gang | accessdate = November 5 | accessyear = 2006 | author = Daniel Pena | date = 2006-11-04 }}</ref> | http://rajah.com/base/node/6675 | title = TNA Interested In Trish Stratus; TNA Site Hacked, James Gang | accessdate = November 5 | accessyear = 2006 | author = Daniel Pena | date = 2006-11-04 }}</ref> | ||
| On ], ], a house show that was originally scheduled to be the first show run by TNA in Connecticut was supposed to take place in ] but was moved to ] after building inspectors said that the building could only be approved for holding up to 400 people without making alterations, despite the fact that the event had been booked for over two months and was approved to hold up to 1000 people. The chief inspector that would have been able to approve the changes was on vacation and would not be back until after the event would have taken place. | |||
| A decision was made to move the event to Bloomfield after the Bloomfield Tennis Academy agreed to let them hold the show there, however, police had shown up at the location and said that there were several problems with the building and that the show could not be held there. It was revealed that the police had received an "anonymous call" and ultimately the decision was made to cancel the show and refund the fans' money. <ref>{{cite web | url = | |||
| http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=21402&p=1 | title = Statement From UWF President Hermie Sadler on TNA Show Cancellation in Connecticut | accessdate = November 14 | accessyear = 2006 | author = Mike Johnson | date = 2006-11-12 }}</ref> | |||
| It should be noted that the WWE's headquarters is located in ] and while the WWE issued a statement denying that they had anything to do with the show's cancellation <ref>{{cite web | url = | |||
| http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=21391&p=1 | title = WWE Official Issues Denial of Involvement in TNA CT Event Cancellation | accessdate = November 14 | accessyear = 2006 | author = Mike Johnson | date = 2006-11-11 }}</ref>, this didn't stop TNA from filming a promo at the site of the WWE headquarters featuring The James Gang discussing the show's cancellation and posting it on their website on ], 2006. It was then revealed by BG James that a follow-up will be aired on iMPACT!'s primetime debut on ]. | |||
| ===Independent circuit=== | ===Independent circuit=== | ||
| During his time in TNA Kip James would also become available to make appearances in independent promotions, often working with B.G. James under the James Gang gimmick on the American independent circuit. |
During his time in TNA Kip James would also become available to make appearances in independent promotions, often working with B.G. James under the James Gang gimmick on the American independent circuit. | ||
| :"''This is my first independent trip to the UK and I gotta say I'm really looking forward to it. I've heard a lot of good things about Varsity Pro Wrestling, but jesus knows if they're looking for someone to push around, they chose the wrong guy. I've made peoples careers and I've ended people's careers. I got no problem what so ever with getting the job done, and if they don't already know, when I'm finished they will know first hand, I'm Kip James, bitch.''" | |||
| Kip James (who came to the ring with the Mr. Ass attire to the "Ass Man" theme from his WWF/E days) competed in the main event of both VPW shows that weekend facing two of its top stars, ] and ]. He also appeared earlier in each show to interrupt ] by its top heel stars, first ] and the next day The UK Kid, who would go on about how British wrestlers are better than Americans until Kip James would come out and tell each one to shut the hell up and get into a small shoving matches. This would not be the only time James' would work with VPW, as James would return to appear on a three night tour in ]. | |||
| ==Wrestling facts== | ==Wrestling facts== | ||
| *'''Finishing and signature moves''' | *'''Finishing and signature moves''' | ||
Revision as of 04:53, 19 November 2006
| Monty "Kip" Sopp | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 1, 1963 Orlando, Florida |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Billy G. Billy Gunn The G-Man Kip James Kip Sopp Kip Winchester Mr. Ass The New Age Outlaw The Outlaw Rockabilly |
| Billed height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
| Billed weight | 268 lb (122 kg) |
| Billed from | Austin, Texas |
| Trained by | Harris Brothers Jerry Gray |
| Debut | 1993 |
Monty "Kip" Sopp (born November 1, 1963) is an American professional wrestler, best known as "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn (also spelled as "Badd Ass") from his years in the World Wrestling Entertainment. He is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Kip James and on the independent circuit as The G-Man.
World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment
When Sopp first arrived in the World Wrestling Federation under the name Billy Gunn, he was teamed with his storyline brother, Bart Gunn, as The Smokin' Gunns. The Gunns would have appreciable success as a tag team, winning the tag team championship three times and feuding with the likes of Owen Hart & Yokozuna and the Godwinns before separating in late 1996.
After feuding briefly with his brother, Sopp struggled to make an impact in the WWF and languished in unpopular gimmicks like "Rockabilly," the new protege of the Honky Tonk Man. The WWE management team finally found a new avenue for Sopp when they teamed him with another struggling singles wrestler, the "Road Dogg" Jesse James to form The New Age Outlaws. The New Age Outlaws, with Sopp now being called "Bad Ass Billy Gunn", were in the spirit of the new Attitude Era: brash, vulgar and egotistical loud-mouths. Throughout late 1997 and the whole of 1998, the Outlaws would dominate the WWF Tag Team division. In fact, some would say that they may have been one of the most popular tag teams in the company's history (Next to The Hart Foundation and The Legion of Doom).
In the aftermath of WrestleMania XIV, The Outlaws joined the Triple H-led D-Generation X. The Outlaws fit the DX role perfectly and helped elevate the group to superstardom. In 1999, The Outlaws separated and even feuded with each other (with Sopp aligned with Chyna and Triple H and Road Dogg aligned with X-Pac) over the DX name. In June 1999, Billy Gunn won the King of the Ring tournament defeating Ken Shamrock, Kane and X-Pac. This was arguably the height of Gunn's popularity which brought a push to main event status but his failure to get over with the fans prevented him from receiving a top Championship match. The Outlaws reunited in late 1999 and in early 2000, after suffering a serious arm injury in a match with The Dudley Boyz, Billy Gunn was kicked out of DX for "losing his cool." Sopp then took some much needed time off to tend to his arm injury before returning later in the year.
After returning Sopp teamed with Chyna and dropped the Mr. Ass gimmick after losing a series of battles against the Right to Censor. Soon afterwards, Sopp would rename himself "The One" Billy Gunn and won the WWE Intercontinental Championship and the WWE Hardcore Championship. Afterwards he continued wrestling as a mid card attraction.
At the start of the WCW/ECW Invasion Sopp would form a tag team with the Big Show. The team was known as the "Show-Gunns" (at Big Show's suggestion).
Sopp would later join with Chuck Palumbo in an ambiguously gay duo gimmick called Billy and Chuck and would later gain a manager and "stylist" in Rico. In the late summer of 2002, Billy & Chuck became the most-talked-about duo in the WWE when Chuck proposed to Billy asking him to be his "partner for life." They had a marriage ceremony on the 2002 season premiere of SmackDown! However, just before they tied the knot, both characters disavowed their on-screen homosexuality as they revealed that the entire ordeal was a publicity stunt. The "preacher" was then revealed to be Eric Bischoff wearing a skin mask. Bischoff summoned Three Minute Warning to beat up Billy & Chuck, with the aid of the turncoat Rico, who was upset that his tag team gave up their gimmick.
Afterwards, Sopp took a few months off because of a shoulder injury. After he returned he reprised the "Mr. Ass" gimmick with Torrie Wilson as his manager. He then started a feud with Jamie Noble that ended with Sopp losing a match to Noble with the stipulation that Noble would sleep with Torrie. After the match he started a tag team with Noble until taking time off again because of shoulder injury. After he returned he started a tag team with Hardcore Holly that led to moderate success.
On November 1, 2004, Sopp along with A-Train and Test were released by the WWE. At the time of his release, he was one of the most tenured wrestlers with the company, behind only The Undertaker,Shawn Michaelsand Scott Taylor aka Scotty Too Hotty.
In June 2005, Sopp gave an interview in which he was heavily critical of the WWE and the events that led to his release. Many of the negative comments were directed towards Triple H who Sopp claimed "runs the show up there".
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
On February 13, 2005, Sopp debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling with no name (as Billy Gunn is a WWE trademark) at the Against All Odds PPV, helping Jeff Jarrett retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in a match with Kevin Nash. Sopp then, using the name The New Age Outlaw (a take off of his WWE tag team, New Age Outlaws with B.G. James (then "The Road Dogg" Jesse James.)) and formed a stable with Jarrett and "The Alpha Male" Monty Brown known as Planet Jarrett. However, WWE threatened TNA with legal action if Sopp used the name "The New Age Outlaw, so he shortened his name to The Outlaw.
Sopp began a campaign to make B.G. James leave the 3Live Kru and defect to Planet Jarrett, reforming the old tag team with Sopp. On July 17 at No Surrender 2005 he renamed himself Kip James and was announced as "wrestling out of Marietta, Georgia" (the family seat of the James family) as a psychological ploy. As a result of his campaign, Sopp attracted the ire of 3Live Kru members Ron "The Truth" Killings and Konnan, leading to a series of tag team matches pitting Sopp and Monty Brown against Killings and Konnan, with a conflicted B.G. James unwilling to take sides. Sopp's efforts ultimately proved futile as James, appointed guest referee in a final match between Brown and Sopp and Konnan and Killings at Sacrifice on August 14, attacked him, enabling the 3Live Kru to defeat Sopp and Brown.
On September 11, 2005 at Unbreakable, Sopp teamed with Brown to defeat the team of Apolo and Lance Hoyt. There was clear tension between the partners, with Brown unhappy at the series of losses the feud with the 3Live Kru had produced and Sopp irked by Brown's decision to leave Planet Jarrett. Despite the victory, the partners argued after the match.
On the October 8, 2005 episode of iMPACT! on Spike TV, Sopp rekindled his feud with the 3Live Kru, running to the ring after a bout between the 3LK and Team Canada in order to prevent Team Canada captain Petey Williams from beating down B.G. James. He saved James, then engaged in a staredown with Konnan and Killings. Sopp saved James from Team Canada once again at Bound For Glory on October 23; though Killings showed signs of gratitude, Konnan remained skeptical as to his true intentions. Later that night, Sopp took part in an over-the-top-rope gauntlet match for the number one contendership to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. After he was eliminated, he tried in vain to prevent Killings from being eliminated as well before being sent away from ringside by the referees.
On the November 26, 2005 episode of iMPACT!, B.G. brought James and the 3Live Kru to ringside, then asked Killings and Konnan whether James could join the stable. Following a heated argument between Konnan and B.G., both Killings and Konnan gave their assent, and the "Four Live Kru" was born. However, at TNA Turning Point 2005, Konnan attacked both B.G. and Kip, costing them their match against Team Canada and initiating a feud between himself and the remainder of the Kru. Shortly thereafter, B.G. James's father, Bob Armstrong, attempted to reconcile the group, but was instead attacked by Konnan and his new stablemates, Homicide and Apolo. Killings later stated that he had severed his ties with the Kru. With Konnan and Killings no longer members of the Kru, Kip and B.G. began referring to themselves as The James Gang.
Kip James and B.G James as of late have shown displeasure in TNA and said they will go find work elsewhere if they don't have any gold soon. They have been performing the crotch chop, a reference to the WWE's DX.
On the November 2, 2006 edition of TNA iMPACT!, Kip and B.G. James said they were going to quit. Kip James grabbed the mic and tried to say something to the TNA administration and Spike TV but each time his mic was cut off. Kip then tried to use the announcer's headset, but it was cut off as well. Frustrated, he started yelling loudly to the crowd but he was cut off as the show went to a commercial break. When the show returned, the announcers speculated that they may have been frustrated due to the influx of new talent entering TNA. It was reported recently that the segment was a worked shoot that Vince Russo had written in order to renew interest upon their eventual return.
Independent circuit
During his time in TNA Kip James would also become available to make appearances in independent promotions, often working with B.G. James under the James Gang gimmick on the American independent circuit.
Wrestling facts
- Finishing and signature moves
- Fameasser / Famouser (Leg drop bulldog)
- Super Fameasser / Super Famouser / Ass Kisser (Diving leg drop bulldog)
- One and Only / Missouri Boat Ride (Cobra clutch slam)
- Gunnslinger (Swinging side slam)
- Suplex powerslam
- Gorilla press slam
- Hip toss into neckbreaker
- Piledriver
- Tilt-a-whirl slam
- Managers
- Nicknames
- "Bad Ass"
- "Mr. Ass"
- "The One"
Championships and accomplishments
- MCW Tag Team Champion (1 time) - with BG James (1)
- WWF Intercontinental Champion (1 time)
- WWF Hardcore Champion (2 times)
- WWF/WWE World Tag Team Champion (10 times) - with Bart Gunn (3), The Road Dogg (5) and Chuck (2)
- King of the Ring (1999)
- IWF (Florida)
- IWF Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Brett Colt (2)
- World Pro Wrestling
- WPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked him # 231 of the 500 best singles wrestler of the PWI Years in 2003.
- PWI ranked him # 43 of the best tag teams of the PWI Years, with The Road Dogg, in 2003.
- PWI Tag Team of the Year Award, with The Road Dogg (1998)
- PWI Tag Team of the Year Award, with Chuck Palumbo (2002)
Personal life
Sopp is divorced with two sons, Colten (born in 1994) and Austin (born in 1995).
Acting career
Sopp appeared in an episode of Sabrina The Teenage Witch as a wrestler that Sabrina Spellman was obliged to wrestle in order to let her cat's daughter marry her fiance who was the son of Sopp's character.
External links
- TheOfficialKipSopp.com - the official website of Kip Sopp
- TNA profile
- WWE profile (as "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn)
References
- Daniel Pena (2006-11-04). "TNA Interested In Trish Stratus; TNA Site Hacked, James Gang". Retrieved November 5.
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