WWE Rumors on Danhausen, John Cena Classic Debut and House Shows from Triple H, Nick Khan Meeting

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

Where Does Danhausen Stand in WWE Merch Sales?

Danhausen's popularity was reportedly among the talking points at a WWE town hall meeting on Tuesday.

According to PWInsider.com (h/t WrestlePurists), WWE president Nick Khan and chief content officer Triple H said that Danhausen's is currently the No. 2 merchandise seller in the company.

Danhausen made his WWE debut at Elimination Chamber on Feb. 28, meaning he has been with the promotion for just under two months.

It was a rocky beginning for Danhausen since the Chicago crowd booed his debut, but it didn't take him long to become a beloved figure within the WWE Universe thanks to his entertaining backstage segments that often result in him cursing other Superstars.

WWE has capitalized on Danhausen's popularity by having him make mainstream appearances on ESPN shows such as First Take, which has seen him interact with Stephen A. Smith.

Danhausen's cursing and uncursing of sports teams has made him a known commodity beyond the world of wrestling, and one can only assume that has aided his merch sales as well.

In a company that includes stars such as Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, CM Punk and Rhea Ripley, Danhausen being No. 2 in terms of moving merchandise is a massive accomplishment.

Expected Timeline for John Cena Classic

Another topic of conversation at the WWE town hall meeting related to John Cena's recent announcement of the John Cena Classic.

According to PWInsider.com (h/t WrestlePurists), it was noted at the meeting that WWE is planning to hold the event during the latter part of the year, and one source indicated that it would likely happen at "the end of the year."

At this month's Backlash premium live event, Cena made a special announcement, which saw him reveal his concept for the John Cena Classic.

While some of the details remain unclear, Cena said it would feature a series of matches pitting WWE main roster and NXT talent against each other.

Cena also noted that the overall winner would become the first John Cena Classic champion, although a unique twist is that it will be decided by fan vote rather than wins or losses in the ring.

Beyond that, it remains to be seen if there will be a tournament format, if it will be a one-night event, when it will air and where it will air.

Given that Cena's last match was in December 2025, having the John Cena Classic take place in December 2026 as a one-year anniversary celebration of sorts could be a sensible move on WWE's part.

Rationale Behind Upcoming String of WWE House Shows

House shows were once a significant part of WWE's business model, and although that has not been the case in recent years, they may be making a bit of a comeback.

During Tuesday's town hall meeting, Khan and Triple H discussed the reasoning behind an increase in live event dates this summer.

According to PWInsider.com (h/t WrestlePurists), they mentioned the importance of house shows for young talent in terms of getting in-ring reps and working more frequently in front of live crowds.

Khan and Triple H reportedly also noted that veteran talent will be part of the house show circuit as well, but they want to find the proper balance in order to limit injury risk as much as possible.

Before television deals became the bulk of WWE's revenue, live events were the meat and potatoes of the company. For many years, a WWE show was held every night of the week across the country and even across the globe.

That changed during the COVID-19 pandemic when shows were not permitted to take place in front of live audiences, and by the time the world opened back up, WWE apparently made the decision to scale back its live events significantly.

While that makes things easier for talent in terms of both travel and wear and tear on their bodies, there are also challenges that come along with wrestling only once a week, once every other week or even once a month for some performers.

Although house shows are no longer necessary when it comes to WWE's bottom line, they can still have benefits for the talent and for fans who want to see a live show at what is typically a lower price than Raw, SmackDown or a premium live event.

On top of that, WWE has called up tons of young talent from NXT in recent months, and the house show circuit could be a good way to get them further acclimated to the main roster.