How WWE star Danhausen may be behind Knicks playoff run, comeback
Danhausen is known for placing curses, and one he made ahead of the Eastern Conference finals may have helped the Knicks' comeback victory.
The New York Knicks are on a wild run in the 2026 NBA playoffs, and a WWE star may be behind it all. It was a wild Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, with the Knicks erasing a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 115-104 overtime win, the second-largest comeback in the fourth quarter of a postseason game since 1997. While New York is certainly praising the late-game heroics of Jalen Brunson and company, people are pointing out that the shocking result happened because of WWE wrestler Danhausen − and his proclamation before Game 1.
Does it make sense? Not really to non-wrestling fans, but those interested in both can't help but notice Danhausen may have something to do with the Knicks' success. Who is Danhausen?
Danhausen may come off weird to non-wrestling fans, as someone with white, black and red face paint talking in strange ways. His gimmick is that he places curses on wrestlers and other things, and they end up working in mysterious fashion. After he was with All Elite Wrestling from 2022-26, he made his first WWE appearance at Elimination Chamber in February.
His debut was odd, but he has since become a fan favorite wrestler thanks to his comedy and creativity. Danhausen and the Knicks The odd relationship with New York goes back to the first round of the playoffs. As part of WWE's promotion of WrestleMania 42, Danhausen appeared on "First Take" and placed a curse on Knicks fan Stephen A.