Why Billy Gunn Is in WWE 2K25 Despite His AEW Contract

Billy Gunn showing up in WWE 2K25 had a lot of fans scratching their heads—but now we know exactly why it’s happening. According to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it all comes down to a special contract.

“The reason Billy Gunn is in the WWE video game is that even though he is under an AEW contract, he also has a WWE Legends contract,” Meltzer explained. “All those with those deals give WWE the right to market them in consumer licensed products.”

Translation? Billy Gunn is pulling double duty—signed to AEW for wrestling, but still under a WWE Legends deal for things like video games, merchandise, and action figures.

Gunn will be included in the Attitude Era Superstars Pack of WWE 2K25, which drops in September. He’s joining Road Dogg, D’Lo Brown, Victoria, and Mark Henry in a stacked DLC release. This marks Gunn’s first appearance in a WWE video game since WWE 2K17—and it comes while he’s still technically working for AEW, mostly behind the scenes since The Acclaimed split up earlier this year.

He’s not the only surprising inclusion. WWE 2K25 also features New Jack—reportedly added at the insistence of WWE President Nick Khan—and Abyss, played by Chris Park, who is currently a WWE producer. WWE’s working relationship with TNA helped get that one across the finish line.

So yes, Billy Gunn is still doing his thing in AEW, but that Legends deal with WWE opens the door for fans to keep seeing him in licensed products—and possibly lining up for action figures and gaming appearances for years to come.

What do you think about Billy Gunn’s dual contracts? Should more wrestlers be allowed to do this, or does it muddy the lines too much between companies? Drop your take in the comments and let us know.