Danhausen uncursed a basketball team, and now the NFL wants a word.
WrestleVotes reports on Fightful Select that no fewer than three NFL teams have inquired about promotional partnerships with Danhausen later this season, including in-stadium appearances.
A source within WWE described the response to his New York Knicks merchandise run as unlike anything the company has seen from a talent generating crossover interest from professional sports organizations, with the NFL the most active. WrestleVotes was told the internal expectation is that Fanatics will run a Danhausen and NFL crossover line later this season.
The run behind it started as a joke. Danhausen cursed Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take on April 17, the day before the NBA playoffs began. The Knicks promptly lost two games to Atlanta by a point each. A fan paid for a Cameo on April 28 to have the curse lifted, and New York did not lose again, sweeping through to the title over San Antonio in June.
WWE noticed the merchandise before it noticed anything else. PWInsider reported that Nick Khan and Triple H highlighted the crossover at a company town hall, and that three of his shirt designs ranked among WWE’s top five sellers.
The company has already tried to build on it. WrestleVotes reported in July that WWE looked at getting Finals MVP Jalen Brunson involved with Danhausen at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Madison Square Garden, before wrist surgery ruled out any physical involvement.
Danhausen debuted for WWE at Elimination Chamber in February.
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