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WWE star Matt Cardona tried to convince Danhausen to “unmask” him last week on “Friday Night SmackDown” when he entered the wrestler’s lab.
Instead, Cardona was shocked when he touched one of Danhausen’s tools. He seemed to return to his Zack Ryder persona for a split second. The Miz and Kit Wilson have suffered similar fates on the show over the past month.
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Matt Cardona enters the arena before facing Trick Williams on “SmackDown” at the SAP Center in San Jose, California on April 10, 2026. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
“You know what, ever since he was shocked in the Danhausen lab, things have been weird,” Cardona told PK Press Club Digital. “My fist clenches. I live in Florida now, but I wanted to go back to Long Island. I chanted ‘Woo!’ I don’t know what’s going on.”
Danhausen has become one of WWE’s biggest stars since his debut at Elimination Chamber in February. His products fly off the shelves and he doesn’t “curse” teams to help them win championships – see the New York Knicks and Carolina Hurricanes.
Cardona said he had a feeling Danhausen’s popularity would take off once he got to WWE.
“I knew he would be in WWE. I followed Danhausen’s independent career. I competed against him independently,” he said. “This guy is a self-made superstar, just like me, and I knew if he got the opportunity in WWE he would excel. I didn’t expect it to be at this level. He’s part of the mainstream. I’m absolutely thrilled for him.”
Danhausen brings a vaudevillian-style persona to the ring. He describes himself as “very nice, very naughty”. And if you wrong him, “you are cursed.”
Danhausen celebrates on “Monday Night Raw” at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California on April 13, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
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Cardona told PK Press Club Digital that his character exemplifies the “E” in WWE.
“Because at the end of the day, it’s entertainment – World Wrestling Entertainment – and Danhausen is entertaining,” Cardona said. “He entertains people of all ages – kids, adults. He can do anything. And he’s not just, you know, a comedic actor. He wrestles too. He really can do anything.”
Cardona hasn’t had many wins under him since returning to WWE earlier this year. That’s why he wanted to go to Danhausen in the first place.
Still, he said, his goal is still to get back into WWE title contention.
“I’ll be honest. I’m not doing very well,” he said. “Check my win/loss record. It hasn’t been the best. That’s why I asked Danhausen to ‘unmask’ me. It worked for the New York Knicks. How about another New Yorker? I’m happy to be back.
Matt Cardona attends ‘SmackDown’ at KFC YUM! Center in Louisville, Kentucky on February 27, 2026. (Mike Marques/WWE)
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“When I was in the independents, it was the best time of my career up to that point, but ultimately the goal was to be the WWE Champion, and you can’t be the WWE Champion unless you’re in WWE. That’s why I had to come back.
