Danhausen showed up in a crate. That alone should’ve told everyone how this was going to go.
Since his surprise WWE debut at the 2026 Elimination Chamber, the “very nice, very evil” grappler has been quietly leaving a trail of bad luck behind him.
Fans who booed his debut were cheering him just a few weeks later — partly because he’s genuinely entertaining, and partly because the curse appears to be working.
So, who has Danhausen cursed in WWE? Here’s the full rundown.
Who Has Danhausen Cursed in WWE
The Danhausen Curse, Explained
Before the list, a quick refresher on what the curse actually is.
It’s not a finishing move. It’s not a power-up.
It’s a theatrical gesture — fingers extended, eyes wide, expression somewhere between menacing and absurd — that Danhausen deploys when someone disrespects him or gets on his bad side.
In kayfabe, the curse causes misfortune. Bad luck follows the target.
Danhausen himself has said the curse “gets into their brain,” making opponents overthink and unravel at critical moments.
Whether you buy it or not, the results on screen have been hard to argue with.
All Superstars and Celebs Cursed by Danhausen in WWE
1. Dominik Mysterio
The first victim. The then-Intercontinental Champion ran into Danhausen backstage before a title defense against Penta and made the mistake of mocking him, treating him as little more than a distraction.
He lost the IC title that night.
It was the moment that shifted the tone. Other WWE superstars noticed. After Dominik dropped the belt, people stopped dismissing Danhausen quite so quickly.
2. The Miz
The A-Lister was offered a chance to mentor Danhausen. He turned it down, made it clear he had no interest in babysitting “some goth kid” who hadn’t been invited to the party, and promptly received the curse.
Danhausen didn’t need to elaborate. He just pointed at what happened to Dominik.
3. “Original” El Grande Americano
Added to the growing list as Danhausen continued to make enemies across the roster.
4. A Random Fan
Not all curse targets wear trunks. A fan in the crowd found out the hard way.
5. Grayson Waller
Waller has a gift for irritating people. Danhausen returned the favor.
6. IShowSpeed
The streamer and WWE crossover personality made the list, showing that the curse doesn’t care about your follower count.
7. Kit Wilson
Another name was added as Danhausen’s WWE run picked up momentum.
8. Referee Dan Engler
Refs aren’t safe either.
9. Stephen A. Smith
The ESPN analyst and longtime WWE friend of the show crossed Danhausen’s path and paid the price.
10. Maryse
The Hall of Famer and former Divas Champion was added to the list, which at this point spans wrestlers, fans, celebs, and broadcast personalities.
11. The Entire Cleveland Cavaliers
This one escalated quickly. Before the Cavaliers’ playoff matchup against the New York Knicks — a team Danhausen was openly supporting — he cursed the whole Cleveland roster.
The NBA didn’t know what hit it.
Does the Curse Actually Work?
In terms of storyline results? The most high-profile victim, Dominik Mysterio, lost his Intercontinental Championship shortly after being cursed. That’s a hard thing to dismiss.
Whether future victims suffer similarly on-screen remains to be seen.
WWE has been playing the curse straight enough that even skeptical characters in the product are treating it as a real threat, which is a sign they’re committed to the bit.
That’s smart booking. A comedy character only works long-term when the comedy has teeth.
FAQs
- Q: Who was the first person Danhausen cursed in WWE?
Dominik Mysterio was the first. He dismissed Danhausen backstage before an IC title match and lost the championship to Penta shortly after.
- Q: Is the Danhausen Curse a real wrestling move?
No. It’s a character trait — a theatrical gesture meant to suggest supernatural bad luck. It’s part of his gimmick, not a technical hold.
- Q: When did Danhausen debut in WWE?
Danhausen debuted at the 2026 Elimination Chamber, emerging from a mystery crate opened by GMs Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis.
- Q: Has Danhausen cursed anyone outside of WWE?
Yes — he cursed the entire Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team before their playoff game against the New York Knicks, a team he was publicly backing.
- Q: Why do WWE fans cheer Danhausen?
Despite a mixed reaction at his debut, fans warmed to him quickly. His blend of absurdist comedy and commitment to the bit, combined with real on-screen results (Dominik losing the IC title), turned skeptics into believers.
Conclusion:
Danhausen arrived in a crate, got booed, won the crowd back, and is now cursing NBA teams. That trajectory is hard to script.
The list of people he’s cursed in WWE keeps growing, and given how his character is being booked, there’s no sign it’s stopping anytime soon.
If you’re a WWE superstar and you see a pale figure with dramatic eyes approaching, the advice is simple: be nice. Be very nice.