Bully Ray’s Explanation for D-Von Dudley’s Absence Doesn’t Add Up

Bully Ray showed up alone at Slammiversary 2025 to challenge the Hardys to one final match at Bound for Glory. But now, there’s serious doubt about the reason he gave for D-Von Dudley’s absence.

On Busted Open Radio, Bully explained D-Von couldn’t be at the event due to a personal family matter that he couldn’t avoid.

“D-Von will be at Bound for Glory, trust me. I wish my brother was by my side last night, but he had a very important family matter that he just couldn’t get out of. We talked, and we both felt that last night was just too important to miss—like catching lightning in a bottle. We wanted to make a big surprise happen, and D-Von will definitely be there at Bound for Glory in Boston.”

But that version of the story hit a wall after Ringside News obtained a promotional poster for Hershey Comic Con, showing D-Von booked as a featured guest for July 19–20—the same weekend as Slammiversary.

The event, held in Grantville, Pennsylvania, lists D-Von as a headliner with WWE, ECW, and TNA branding. The timing and location raise questions about whether the “family emergency” explanation was a real-life excuse or part of an in-character response to maintain the setup for Bound for Glory.

With D-Von already confirmed to appear at Bound for Glory on October 12, the final chapter of Team 3D vs. The Hardys is still going forward—but the lead-up is now layered with speculation.