A recent backstage update has provided new insights on an absent AEW star, Danhausen, who reportedly conveyed his “frustration” directly to Tony Khan.
It has been nearly a year since Danhausen last appeared on AEW programming, with his final appearance on the February 14 episode of ROH TV. Despite his absence from AEW television, Danhausen has been active on the independent scene throughout 2024, leading to questions about his current status within AEW.
Fightful Select has now revealed several new details regarding Danhausen’s absence and whether the company has any plans to reintegrate the 34-year-old star.
According to the report, Danhausen and AEW have had minimal contact over the past six months, aside from routine approvals for him to compete at independent events, as is customary for contracted talent.
Danhausen was initially slated to return to TV a year ago following an injury, but these plans were reportedly altered, causing Danhausen to express his frustration directly to Tony Khan.
There were pitches earlier this year to bring Danhausen back to TV, with former AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson being a strong advocate for these plans. However, despite Danhausen’s willingness to return, these plans did not materialize.
The prevailing belief within AEW is that Danhausen chose to prioritize independent bookings over working on AEW’s Saturday show, Collision.
Danhausen indicated to AEW that family reasons had affected his availability as the year progressed. However, AEW observed that he continued to work independent dates during that period, leading them to believe he was not interested in working Collision tapings.
The report notes that Danhausen’s AEW contract extends into the summer of 2025, with no current creative plans for his return.
We will provide further updates on Danhausen’s status as they become available.
