Why AEW Won't Book Danhausen
Danhausen has been the subject of several AEW creative pitches - including from Bryan Danielson...
Danhausen doesn't currently factor in AEW's creative plans despite being contracted to the Tony Khan-helmed promotion until the summer of 2025.
This is according to Fightful Select, who report that aside from Danhausen getting his independent bookings confirmed, the two parties haven't been in regular contact in "well over six months."
Several pitches were made for Danhausen's AEW return earlier this year, including a few from Bryan Danielson, but nothing came of them. Danhausen is reportedly willing to go back to work for AEW - and at least one member of the creative team has spoken to him since September.
Last October, AEW aired several vignettes hyping Danhausen's return to coincide with Halloween. Plans changed - and this didn't happen, despite the videos. Fightful states that Danhausen had expressed his frustration regarding his non-return on Halloween directly to Tony Khan.
Almost a year has now passed since Danhausen last appeared on AEW television. His last match for the company was the TNT Title Right to Challenge Battle Royal on 30 December 2023.
AEW Believed Danhausen Preferred Taking Indie Dates To Collision
Per Fightful Select, AEW believed that Danhausen wished to prioritise independent bookings over working Collision on Saturdays.
Danhausen also had a family-related matter that impacted his availability earlier this year. This reportedly changed as 2024 progressed, but having seen him work indies prior to this period, AEW personnel felt the 34-year-old didn't want to work on Collision.
Currently, no creative plans are lined up for Danhausen in AEW.
If his Cagematch profile is accurate, Danhausen has worked 52 independent shows in 2024, keeping a busy calendar throughout the year. Most recently, he faced former EVOLVE star Caleb Konley on an ASW show on 16 November.
Signed to AEW in January 2022, Danhausen was Pro Wrestling Tees' top merchandise seller that year, outdoing huge names like CM Punk, Sting, Chris Jericho, Ric Flair, and The Young Bucks. That AEW hasn't found a way to utilise somebody who is clearly a major money-maker in the merchandise realm is surprising and raises questions over why AEW simply isn't using him anymore.