Kevin Nash commented that Steve Austin gained popularity more because of who he was than for his in-ring performance, and he believes Danhausen is experiencing a similar trajectory. This topic arose on the podcast Kliq This following a Fightful Select report revealing that at least three NFL teams have expressed interest in collaborating with Danhausen, possibly including live appearances at stadiums. According to a WWE insider cited by the report, the demand for Danhausen’s New York Knicks merchandise has been unprecedented for a wrestler, and Fanatics is expected to launch an NFL crossover featuring him. Interestingly, the Knicks won their first NBA championship in 53 years, humorously attributed to Danhausen having “uncursed” the team.
Co-host Sean Oliver pointed out that the partnership involves a wrestler who isn’t known for work rate or high-risk maneuvers like top-of-the-cage moves. Nash expanded on this by suggesting that Austin’s appeal came more from his persona as a tough, beer-drinking rebel who defied authority, rather than from his wrestling skills alone. He described Austin as the perfect figure for that era, noting that the prominence of the “316” hand sign in various sports reflected this phenomenon.
Nash also emphasized that many overlook how skilled a wrestler Steve Austin actually was during his early days as Stunning Steve, performing technical moves such as hip tosses, arm drags, and arm bars in a classic Southern wrestling style. He acknowledged that Austin took a lot of physical punishment during this period—competing in small venues in towns like Tifton, Georgia, often with modest crowds—and gave a firsthand account of these matches, recalling a 1993 WCW house show where Nash himself wrestled as Vinnie Vegas.
While Nash drew parallels, there’s a notable difference: Austin spent nearly a decade working smaller circuits under his earlier personas and held titles in WCW before being released, with his breakout “Stone Cold” character emerging only after his iconic 1996 King of the Ring promo. By then, his in-ring career had already taken a toll. In contrast, Danhausen developed his unique character first on the indie scene and then in Ring of Honor and AEW, achieving crossover fame without years of grinding through small towns.
Nash argues that despite their different paths, both Austin and Danhausen succeed because mainstream audiences connect more with their personalities than with wrestling ability. The popularity of Danhausen’s Knicks merchandise illustrates this point: a wrestling character capitalizing on an NBA title and drawing interest from NFL franchises cannot be explained by wrestling skill alone.
The example Nash cited—a 1993 WCW card featuring Vinnie Vegas vs. Van Hammer as a semi-main event beneath the Hollywood Blonds vs. Ricky Steamboat and Shane Douglas—showcases how the biggest draws on the show were those with compelling characters rather than outstanding matches. Since joining AEW in 2022, Danhausen has primarily raised his profile through social media, merchandise sales, and off-ring appearances, with a relatively limited television presence. Nash’s takeaway is that the fans who remember Austin’s early work as Stunning Steve represent only a small fraction of those who purchased his merchandise.
Fan Take: This insight highlights a shifting landscape in wrestling where charisma and character development often outweigh pure in-ring skill in building a lasting legacy. For fight fans, it reveals that the sport’s future stars may be those who master storytelling and personality, connecting with broader audiences beyond traditional wrestling circles.
Source: wrestlingnews.co
