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Top WWE Star Played Crucial Role in Danhausen Signing

Originally posted on The Sportster | By Matthew Guyett | Last updated Mar 6, 2026 4:33 PM ET

Danhausen appears to have CM Punk to thank for his arrival in WWE, which is one of the biggest talking points in pro wrestling right now. The former AEW star's debut at Elimination Chamber drew huge backlash and comparisons to The Gobbledy Gooker.

That was until Danhausen appeared in a backstage segment on WWE RAW this past Monday. He had many fans in hysterics while interacting with general manager Adam Pearce and The Judgment Day's Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor and JD McDonagh.

CM Punk Key in Danhausen WWE Arrival

Danhausen has reunited with several talents who spent time with him in AEW, including Punk, Cody Rhodes, Royce Keys (formerly Powerhouse Hobbs) and Aleister Black. He is particularly close with Punk and posed for a photo with the World Heavyweight Champion and his partner, AJ Lee, on Monday night.

According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Punk "spearheaded" the idea of bringing Danhausen to WWE. It isn't the first time the world champion has played a role in getting the polarising signed by a promotion.

Danhausen previously revealed that Rhodes and Punk pushed for AEW to sign him while he was still on the independent circuit. He said in December 2024:

"I showed up to say hello to people. To their credit, Cody Rhodes said, ‘Are you doing something tonight?’. I said, ‘No, my leg is broken.’. He said, ‘I’ll make sure you’re doing something tonight.’. So, Cody, I think, had a little bit to do with helping me get a job there. I believe Pepsi Phil [CM Punk] had something to help with that."

WWE teased Danhausen's debut with a mysterious crate that arrived on RAW and was sent back and forth between the red brand and SmackDown. The big reveal came at Elimination Chamber last Saturday and caused quite a stir in the arena and online.

Why Danhausen's RAW Debut Came Backstage

Danhausen's debut at the PLE drew some boos from those in the audience, and he jokingly touched on this when appearing on RAW. The former AEW star's only appearance on Monday night came backstage rather than in the ring.

The report claims that this was because WWE wanted to avoid any possible negative reaction he might get. Instead, he received praise from most viewers, who felt he could be used effectively, judging from his first segment.

Danhausen cursed Dominik during a back-and-forth and the Judgment Day member ended up losing the Intercontinental Championship to Penta later in the night. It can be assumed that this will be a recurring theme and that members of the WWE roster will be tormented by his curse.

This article first appeared on The Sportster and was syndicated with permission.

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