WWE is the reason Billy Gunn has simply been referred to as "Billy" during recent appearances on Dynamite.
Wrestling names can be a funny thing, whether they be real names or ring names. In terms of WWE, when the company signs a new Superstar, it often likes them to change their ring name. That decision is made for a couple of different reasons. Perhaps WWE doesn't want fans making the connection to where the signing wrestled before, or maybe it just wants to own the rights to that performer's name, hence giving them a new one.
A couple of wrestlers have been lucky enough to keep their ring names when arriving in WWE. The likes of AJ Styles and Samoa Joe. Finn Balor, Seth Rollins, and Daniel Bryan, along with so many others, weren't so lucky. Other than a portion of the foundation they have established being erased when that happens, it can also cause problems if and when they decide to leave.
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Some of the former WWE Superstars who have made the move to AEW are feeling that burn right now. Although Cody Rhodes has claimed he is allowed to use his surname, he continues to go by just "Cody" on AEW TV. Seems as if that also applies to WWE Hall of Famer Billy Gunn, or at least that's how it seemed on Dynamite this week.
During Billy's confrontation with MJF, the announcers used a handful of creative ways to say his full name without actually saying it. They referred to him as "Billy from The Gunn Club" or threw his son in there and said "Billy and Austin Gunn". However, at no point was he referred to as Billy Gunn. According to Wrestling Observer Radio, he may have received a call from WWE's lawyers about the issue.
Interestingly, WrestlingNews.co is of the belief that Billy is still able to use the name he made famous in WWE for merchandise purposes. It's just on screen that he can only be referred to as Billy. It seems that for now, AEW will get around that in the same way it does with the Rhodes name. By having someone who can use the Gunn name, in this case Billy's son Austin, nearby at all times.
