Not everyone on the WWE roster was thrilled with Danhausen’s rapid rise. Kit Wilson revealed that some talent backstage questioned the decision to feature the former AEW wrestler during Elimination Chamber on Feb. 28 at the United Center in Chicago. The complaint wasn’t about a match — it was about the amount of TV time the segment ate up during the premium live event, since Danhausen simply emerged from the mystery box that had been teased for weeks on RAW and SmackDown.
During an appearance on Busted Open Radio, Wilson said the crowd reaction was mixed, and that it was the same story backstage:
“I was there in Chicago for his debut, and I think that gave us a lot of question marks. It was a lot of people that enjoyed it. There was a lot of people that didn’t. Again, that’s the beautiful thing about this company, about this program is that we all get to have our own opinion.
Danhausen came in and there was a lot of us backstage that didn’t feel too fond about him coming in on a pay-per-view, on a PLE… maybe taking our spots.”
Wilson didn’t name names, and made clear this was the view of only part of the roster, not a universal one. The comment doesn’t confirm a widespread rejection of Danhausen backstage, nor does it suggest WWE management shared that dissatisfaction. Wilson also credited himself with raising Danhausen’s profile, pointing out that he was Danhausen’s first opponent inside a WWE ring.
That match took place on the April 10 episode of SmackDown. Danhausen defeated Wilson after Danhausen’s “curse” caused a miscue in the corner that set up the pinfall. The win was only the start of a rivalry that quickly spiraled into a feud that also pulled in The Miz.
Danhausen appeared alongside John Cena on Night Two of WrestleMania 42 on April 19, humiliating Wilson and Miz with help from the Minihausens. A few weeks later, on May 9, Danhausen and the Minihausens defeated the duo at Backlash, marking Danhausen’s first match on a WWE PLE.
The momentum didn’t stop there. Danhausen made it to SummerSlam and defeated AAA Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio on Aug. 2 in the first-ever Human Monies on a Pole Match.