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. Smith.
The segment was strange, but it had some effect: the Atlanta Hawks took a 2-1 lead over the Knicks. Danhausen even gloated about it on an episode of SmackDown.
Danhausen curses Stephen A Smith on ESPN pic.twitter.com/A9J8lQ8JA3
— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) April 17, 2026
However, Danhausen later revealed someone paid him “human monies” to lift the curse off of the Knicks.
The result? The Knicks win three straight games to win the series, and follow it up with a dominant sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round. ESPN even noted on “First Take” on May 19 that the Knicks were 6-0 since the curse was lifted.
Danhausen curses Cleveland Cavaliers
As if it couldn’t get weirder, Danhausen appeared on ESPN program “NBA Today” ahead of Game 1. On the show, he placed a curse on the Cavaliers.
It didn’t end there, as Danhausen went to Madison Square Garden ahead of the game with his own Knicks jersey.
All of that led to what happened in Game 1, when the Cavaliers were up 93-71 with 7:52 left in the game and on the way to victory. New York instead went on an incredible 44-11 run to cap off the comeback.
After the stunning result, fans took notice of Danhausen’s actions, and he was already taking full credit for it, and demanding courtside seats between Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner so the Cleveland curse can continue.
The Danhausen curse worked 👀
📸 @DanhausenADpic.twitter.com/5aDVXNN5ny
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) May 20, 2026
Another Danhausen curse works. Knicks with a crazy comeback and win! https://t.co/lxKMM2zg6p
— Wrestling (@WrestlinggNewss) May 20, 2026
If you don’t believe in the Danhausen curse after tonight, you’re crazy. The Cavs were clearly CURSED. @DanhausenADpic.twitter.com/EEyHSUEi3W
— Jeff McDevitt (@JeffMcDev) May 20, 2026
we win a ring and I speak for ALL of knicks FC when I say @DanhausenAD gets a spot on the parade bus instead of @stephenasmithhttps://t.co/Na4kCaxRbZ
— dr. cenzo (@1trueyapper) May 19, 2026
Believe it or not, there may be some magic behind the Knicks’ playoff run, and it better ensure it stays on Danhausen’s good side in order to win its first NBA title since 1973.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Meet Danhausen, the WWE star behind the Knicks miraculous comeback win
