Danhausen’s time with All Elite Wrestling may soon come to a very evil, very final end.
According to Fightful Select, the fan-favorite oddball wrestler’s contract is now set to expire in February 2026, and this time it looks like there won’t be another injury-related extension to keep him around. While his deal was originally slated to run out in mid-2025, AEW quietly tacked on more time due to injury—despite Danhausen reportedly preferring they just let it lapse.
That wasn’t just about ring time. Sources say Danhausen wanted the contract to expire so he could regain more control over his independent bookings and merchandising, which is a huge part of his brand.
But despite that brief extension, it seems AEW never brought him back into the fold.
“AEW sources that we’ve spoken to claim he hasn’t been backstage in ages, and hasn’t been factored in to any creative plans.”
As of now, there’s no indication that AEW is looking to re-sign him or keep him under any kind of extended deal, and it looks like Danhausen is preparing to hit the open market—possibly to rebuild his brand in the indies or explore other opportunities.
Danhausen’s departure could open the door for a big resurgence outside of AEW, where his quirky character work and merch-driven business model originally exploded in popularity.
Do you think AEW dropped the ball on Danhausen? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
December 21, 2025 6:33 pm
