Brian James on his podcast said that Billy Gunn wanted to be part of the DX Reunion Raw and as late as the day before the show he thought he was going to be able to do it and was disappointed he couldn’t. So here’s the actual story of what happened. I don’t think anyone expected Gunn there in the first place and WWE only advertised Sean Waltman, Shawn Michaels, Road Dogg Brian James and HHH. However, there were meaningful talks, which surprised me, for this to happen. If I was Tony Khan right now, based on the situation right now between the two sides, it would have been a hard no, with no discussion, particularly when they did allow Gunn to do the Hall of Fame already and HHH made the remark about how Vince was going to buy that pissant company you’re working for. Then again, Khan allowed Chris Jericho on the Austin podcast on Peacock, which in hindsight was a smart move that many thought wasn’t. He allowed his guys on the Cena show in taped interviews which was a nice gesture and in hindsight didn’t hurt AEW in the least. He allowed Billy Gunn to do the DX Hall of Fame induction which had the awkward moment where HHH did a bit about Vince firing people and Gunn joked that Vince couldn’t fire him now (Gunn was fired even though he was viewed positively as a coach because he had tested positive for steroids in a powerlifting meet) and the fans started chanting AEW. HHH then came back and said Vince would buy that pissant company you work for just so he could fire you again. Gunn later said,“I let it go strictly because my wife told me to. When everybody starts chanting AEW at the Hall of Fame, he’s got to try and shut it down somehow and whatever goes through his head, goes through his head, I’m not in control of that other than I could have punched him in the mouth. It’s what it is. I’m gonna bypass that.” It was actually a long involved story that didn’t involve any money exchanging hands as WWE never offered money and Khan never asked, and basically came down to this. Khan agreed to let him do to the show but on the air they would have to mention he’s from AEW, or that AEW allowed him to appear or some wording, but there had to be one mention that in some form he works for AEW, just as WWE already did when they got Mickie James for the Royal Rumble this past year. WWE stalled on the yes or no, and then at the last minute would not agree to it. It isn’t as if there was even a chance of say, a special event for Jericho or Sting would happen on AEW television and WWE would allow its talent to appear on that show or maybe in a few years they’d do a five year anniversary show and push that the people who started the company would all be back together for one night of nostalgia and WWE would allow Cody Rhodes to come back for that show. The one I wondered about and we will never know the answer would be if Khan had asked WWE to allow Big E and Wyatt to appear on the Brodie Lee show, but he never asked as far as I know. James, on his podcast addressed it and left out the major key detail (there is a possibility he would not have known the details of the talks), saying,(Fightful transcription) ,”It broke my heart, and I believe it broke his too, In all actuality, Hunter was not happy about it either. Shawn and X-Pac weren't either. We wanted the band, all that we could get back together. Chyna is there in spirit. That didn't happen. From what I understand, and I'm not in those inner circles anymore, and for my sanity rightfully so and thankful. I don't know the exact reason, but I was told everything that we could do was done, and we couldn't come together. During the day prior, I texted him, 'Hey, are you going to be able to make it? Have you found out any answers yet?' He said, 'Yes, I'm in.' I was like, 'Oh my God, that's awesome.' Literally, before I landed at home, I found out he was not in. I texted him back and he wasn't happy either. It just didn't work, no matter what. I understand. Whatever. I understand we're not huge fans of each other from a business standpoint. It was a big deal, and I feel like he got ripped off and didn't live it with us. I'm sorry for that. I know he is too.” Obviously Levesque if he wanted to would have been able to make it happen. I’m still surprised it ever got to the point of it being a possibility. It also could have been WWE not wanting to risk a loud “Daddy Ass” chant at their show in Brooklyn and that’s why it came down to the very end without WWE agreeing to it while they were still talking