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“You. Are. Cursed.”
It’s the zinger that has plagued WWE Superstars, Stephen A. Smith and sports teams. Danhausen, the “very nice and very mean” pro wrestling personality who has placed his curse on The Miz, Kit Wilson and the ESPN pundit, did something that was more of the former instead of the latter. He “uncursed” the New York Knicks.
The Knicks and Knicks fans have been in a pit of basketball despair for about 27 years. Since the San Antonio Spurs swept them in the 1999 NBA Finals, the joy of watching the Knicks has come in waves.
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Danhausen enters the ring during WWE Backlash at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Fla., on May 9, 2026. (Michael Owens/WWE)
The arrivals of Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony helped put the sparkle back in their eyes. Jeremy Lin and “Linsanity” gave them hope, and even Phil Jackson’s takeover as team president for three years in the mid-2010s was a moment that would have stuck in fans’ minds for a while if it led to any kind of success.
But this year’s iteration of the Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson, has so far erased all stories of tragedy and small triumphs that never materialized. The Knicks advanced to the NBA Finals on Monday night with a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Danhausen cursed the Cavaliers, much to the chagrin of Cleveland sports fan The Miz. He even showed up to Madison Square Garden and received a jersey while WWE released a jersey in partnership with the Knicks. The shirt read: “You are uncursed.”
The Miz talks to Danhausen during SmackDown at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 1, 2026. (Meg Oliphant/WWE)
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Danhausen took a victory lap on Tuesday, appearing in a video where a broom breaks out to mark the sweep.
“UNFAIR,” he added in a separate post on X.
The moment underscores a perfect crossover moment between pro wrestling and mainstream sports. A huge WWE fan himself, Brunson was involved in an angle last year with Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton.
Brunson has avoided commenting on Danhausen’s rants, but said he and the training staff “acknowledge” World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns before every fight.
“Look, these are the questions I want to ask! … I have a handshake with one of our trainers and we acknowledge him before every match,” he said back on April 30 after Reigns won the title at WrestleMania 42.
Whether it’s voodoo, magic, or whatever you want to call it, the Knicks have propelled themselves back into the hearts and minds of basketball fans and become one of the feel-good stories of the year.
Across town, in Queens, the New York Mets are still hoping for an “uncursed.” But Danhausen made it clear to Pakinomist Digital during WrestleMania week in April that the team wasn’t completely free of his curse.
New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson reacts after scoring in the second half of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers in New York, New York, on May 19, 2026. (Seth Wenig/AP Photo)
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“I failed to curse the Mets. But it didn’t work because I think it was Brian Gewirtz who didn’t pay Danhausen. He didn’t send me my money, so it didn’t take full effect,” he said. “Once I have the money, maybe it will actually work, because right now it’s probably about half a u-curse. It’s like a recess situation.”
