Matt Cardona says Danhausen left him rattled after an on-screen encounter on Friday Night SmackDown — and he wants the “uncurse” back. Cardona told Fox News Digital that after stepping into Danhausen’s lab he was startled when he touched one of the wrestler’s tools and briefly reverted to his Zack Ryder persona, a moment he framed as entertainment rather than a literal supernatural event.
Cardona on Danhausen
Cardona framed the moment as equal parts in-joke and professional admiration. “This guy is a self-made superstar just like myself,” Cardona told Fox News Digital. “I knew if he ever had the opportunity in WWE that he would excel. I did not anticipate that it would be at this level. He’s mainstream. I’m absolutely thrilled for him.”
Cardona traced Danhausen’s momentum to long nights on the independent circuit and said the character’s blend of spooky theatre and family-friendly comedy helped him break through to a wider audience. Cardona — who has navigated his own path from Long Island independents to television — said he recognizes the hard work behind a breakout character.
The SmackDown uncurse moment
On SmackDown, Cardona said he entered Danhausen’s theatrical lab to ask the wrestler to “uncurse” him because his win/loss record since returning to WWE “has not been the best.” According to Cardona, the staged interaction didn’t go as planned.
“I touched one of Danhausen’s tools and I got shocked,” Cardona told Fox News Digital. He described a split-second reversion to his Zack Ryder persona — a brief flash of the character fans remember from earlier in his career — followed by small, lingering effects. Cardona mentioned a twitching fist and an odd urge to return to Long Island, adding that those beats were played as part of the show.
The sequence echoed similar supernatural-tinged comedy used in recent WWE segments involving other on-screen characters. Cardona was careful to present the sensations he felt as part of the entertainment, not as verified paranormal phenomena: the “uncurse” angle is a storyline device, he said, and should be treated as such.
Danhausen’s rise and merch
Danhausen made his WWE debut at Elimination Chamber in February, and his character — a mix of vaudeville menace, cartoonish creepiness and accessible humor — quickly drew attention. Cardona described the act as “entertaining for people of all ages,” noting that the persona works both for children and longtime wrestling fans because it blends clear character work with solid in-ring fundamentals.
Coverage of the character’s early run noted that Danhausen-branded products were “flying off the shelves,” a phrase Cardona repeated when describing the intensity of fan interest. That momentum has been reinforced by short, viral-friendly promos and merchandise drops that translate well to social platforms and retail windows alike.
Beyond the merch, the character has attracted broader conversation: mainstream sports pieces and pop-culture chatter have referenced Danhausen’s look and theatrics, helping push the persona into nonwrestling conversations. Cardona credited that cross-over appeal for much of Danhausen’s rapid profile growth.
What this means for Cardona
For Cardona, the spot served dual purposes: it acknowledged Danhausen’s breakout run while positioning Cardona within a fresh, televised storyline. He acknowledged his current win/loss record since returning to WWE has been uneven and said asking Danhausen to “uncurse” him was a pragmatic move to regain momentum.
Cardona’s career arc — from his Long Island beginnings through the independent circuit to national television — informs how he views opportunities. He suggested the Danhausen beat could be used to refresh his character, create sympathetic moments with fans and open new directions on weekly TV that might lead to renewed title contention.
He emphasized that the interaction was meant to be entertaining first: a short, memorable TV moment that can be expanded into promos, tag matches or gimmick spots that highlight both performers. If booked well, Cardona said, the segment could act as a springboard rather than a one-off gag.
Wider fan reaction
Reaction from the broader audience has been notable: social posts, merch demand and mainstream writeups have signaled that Danhausen has reached viewers who do not follow wrestling regularly. Cardona pointed to that reception as part of why he praised the character’s success; mainstream traction can benefit anyone on the show by increasing visibility and creating crossover chances.
Fans on social platforms were quick to clip the SmackDown beats and replay the twitch and reversion moments, and commentators have noted that short, shareable television moments like this can spark renewed interest in weekly programming.
Source attribution
This report is based on an interview published by Fox News Digital and includes direct quotes from Matt Cardona. Claims that Danhausen’s actions “uncursed” teams or individuals are presented as entertainment storyline elements and are not independently verified as literal supernatural events. Photo credit: Fox News Digital.
Read the original Fox News Digital story: Danhausen ‘is a self-made superstar,’ WWE wrestler Matt Cardona says (Fox News Digital).
