“We Were Set Up to Fail”: Danhausen Finds WWE Locker Room Support After Brutal Elimination Chamber Debut in Chicago
The popular star got booed out of the building when he emerged from the crate—but some of wrestling’s biggest names are rushing to his defense.
When that crate descended at the United Center during the WWE Elimination Chamber, the Chicago crowd was ready to explode. For weeks, fans had speculated about who would emerge—with many hoping for the surprise return of Chris Jericho in his hometown.
Instead, out popped Danhausen.
The reaction was immediate and unforgiving. Boos rained down as the former AEW star stood in the ring, making his long-awaited WWE debut in front of one of wrestling’s toughest crowds. What should have been a career-defining moment quickly turned uncomfortable.
But backstage, support is building for the newly signed superstar.
Veterans Rally Around Debuted Star
Bully Ray didn’t hold back when addressing the situation, pointing fingers at how the moment was handled rather than the performer himself.
“WWE did not set any expectations for the fans… let alone high expectations,” the Hall of Famer posted. “I’ve always thought Danhausen was extremely entertaining and underutilized. However… the Chicago crowd was audibly unhappy at the end of the Crate reveal.”
The message was clear—this wasn’t on Danhausen.
Wrestling legend Ricky Morton of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express also stepped up to defend the debuting star, taking aim at critics within the industry.
“I see a lot of ‘professional’ wrestlers dissing the success of their peers,” Morton wrote. “If you work hard, dedicate time to your career, put some effort in the gym, and go get em’, opportunities will present themselves. Congratulations, Danhausen.”
Even AJ Styles weighed in, simply replying, “Well said” to Morton’s post.
Triple H Breaks Silence on What’s Next
Despite the rough landing, WWE’s creative direction remains firmly behind their newest acquisition.
Paul Levesque, better known as Triple H, addressed the debut during the post-event show with a knowing smile. The Chief Content Officer seemed unfazed by the mixed reaction, instead teasing what’s coming down the road.
“Me not commenting on the crate, and Danhausen—Michael Cole got a nice bucket of teeth,” Triple H said. “I think we’re in for a fun time. Whatever it is, it’s gonna be a blast.”
According to Bodyslam, Danhausen has already signed a multi-year deal with the company, suggesting WWE has long-term plans regardless of how night one went.
The question now is whether the creative team can turn those boos into something special—or if Chicago’s reaction will set the tone for what comes next. If history has taught us anything, it’s that some of wrestling’s biggest stars had to win over crowds that were ready to write them off after five minutes.
For Danhausen, the real work starts now.
