Matt Cardona Credits Danhausen as 'Self-Made Superstar' After WWE SmackDown Laboratory Segment

WWE wrestler Matt Cardona has called Danhausen "a self-made superstar" following a Friday Night SmackDown segment in which Cardona visited Danhausen's on-screen laboratory, touched one of the character's tools and was shocked — a scripted encounter that briefly appeared to revert Cardona to his earlier Zack Ryder persona. Speaking to Fox News Digital, Cardona said the experience left him with strange side effects, including an urge to move back to Long Island and an involuntary tendency to chant "Woo!" The bit highlights how thoroughly Danhausen's character has embedded itself into WWE's storytelling since his debut at Elimination Chamber in February.

Danhausen's Rapid Rise Since Elimination Chamber

Danhausen's arrival has generated the kind of crossover attention that is difficult to manufacture. The character — a vaudevillian figure who describes himself as "very nice, very evil" and issues formal curses to those who cross him — has moved merchandise at a pace WWE described as products flying off shelves. His "uncursing" rituals have reached beyond wrestling: New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson publicly acknowledged Danhausen's involvement on the team's run to an NBA title, and the Carolina Hurricanes received the same treatment during their own playoff campaign. Cardona was not the only SmackDown participant affected by the laboratory premise; The Miz and Kit Wilson went through comparable segments over the prior month.

A Relationship Built on the Independent Circuit

Cardona's endorsement carries context. He said he followed Danhausen's work before WWE, and the two competed against each other on the independent wrestling circuit. That history gave Cardona confidence Danhausen would succeed at the highest level, though he told Fox News Digital the degree of mainstream penetration exceeded what he had anticipated. Cardona drew a direct parallel between Danhausen's path and his own, noting that both built their names without the support of a major promotion before reaching WWE.

Cardona's Own Standing and Goals

The laboratory visit was not purely a character exercise for Cardona. He told Fox News Digital his win-loss record since returning to WWE earlier this year has been poor, and he sought Danhausen's help in changing that trajectory, pointing to the Knicks' success as a precedent. His stated ambition remains the WWE championship — the reason, he said, he came back to the company after a period working independent shows he described as the best stretch of his career to that point.

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