WWE star Danhausen has found himself at the centre of an unexpected online debate after an old interview about his signature facepaint resurfaced, bringing a Magic: The Gathering character into the conversation. What initially appeared to be a discussion about visual similarities between two distinctive designs quickly turned into speculation about whether the wrestler could take legal action against the popular card game.
The renewed attention has also raised questions about what Danhausen’s trademark actually protects and why he decided to register his unusual makeup design in the first place. Now, the wrestler has responded to the speculation, offering a clarification that changes how his earlier comments should be understood.
How a Magic: The Gathering Card Brought Danhausen’s Facepaint Trademark Back Into the Spotlight
The discussion can be traced back to January 30, 2025, when Danhausen appeared on Insight with Chris Van Vliet. At the time, he was still associated with AEW and spoke about several aspects of his wrestling character, including the origins of his recognisable facepaint.
During the conversation, Danhausen explained that noticing another design that looked similar to his makeup had encouraged him to consider trademark protection. He also revealed that fans had been tagging him on Twitter whenever they noticed the resemblance.
Explaining what prompted the decision, Danhausen said:
“I think I had seen something that looked very similar to mine that would came after and I went ‘Maybe I should try to get this [trademarked].’”
He subsequently identified the design that had caught his attention, revealing that it belonged to a Magic: The Gathering card.
“There was a Magic the Gathering card that I saw. I was like ‘It’s probably nothing,’ but it looks very much like [Danhausen face paint design]. I was getting tagged by just fans on Twitter, and I was like maybe I should try to get my makeup trademarked because who knows.”
The card in question was Juri, Master of the Revue, a character featured in Commander Legends.
Although the comments were made in 2025, their significance became a talking point again in November 2026. Some social-media users interpreted Danhausen’s explanation as suggesting that he had secured trademark protection with the intention of challenging the card’s creators.
However, his original interview did not announce any legal action against Magic: The Gathering or its publisher, Wizards of the Coast. It explained why he had considered protecting his own distinctive appearance.
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Danhausen Responds to Magic: The Gathering Lawsuit Speculation
As the older interview attracted renewed attention, the discussion shifted towards what Danhausen might do with his trademark.
The wrestler addressed the situation directly on X on November 3, 2026, pushing back against the interpretation that his decision was about gaining the freedom to pursue anyone whose artwork looked remotely similar to his makeup.
Danhausen wrote:
“If you’re mad about this, you’re stupid. This isn’t so Danhausen can Willy nilly try to sue people. It’s literally so no one can yell at Danhausen.”
The response offered a more direct explanation of his position. Rather than presenting the trademark as a weapon for pursuing other creators, Danhausen described it as a way of protecting himself.
He also responded to another user who discussed the Magic connection, making his feelings towards the franchise clear:
“Bingo. Danhausen loves Magic.”
That short statement added important context to the discussion. Danhausen was not presenting himself as being involved in a feud with the card game or its creators.
His latest comments also reinforce the distinction between noticing a resemblance and making a formal accusation of intellectual-property infringement.
As of the latest available information, there has been no reported lawsuit, cease-and-desist action or other publicly announced legal proceeding between Danhausen and Wizards of the Coast concerning Juri, Master of the Revue.
Danhausen’s Facepaint Trademark Dates Back to 2020
While the November 2026 discussion may appear connected to Danhausen’s recent WWE visibility, the trademark itself is considerably older.
A US trademark application was filed under Donovan Danhausen, the wrestler’s legal name, on November 6, 2020. The application carries serial number 90303521 and identifies the mark as “a stylized face.”
The filing covers two categories of goods and services under the International Classification system.
| Trademark detail | Official information |
| Applicant | Donovan Danhausen |
| Filing date | November 6, 2020 |
| Serial number | 90303521 |
| Mark description | A stylized face |
| International Class 25 | Clothing and merchandise |
| International Class 41 | Wrestling-related entertainment services |
| Attorney | Michael E. Dockins |
The Class 25 application covers clothing items, including:
- Shirts
- Sweatshirts
- Bandanas
- Hats
- Hooded sweatshirts
Class 41 covers entertainment services associated with professional wrestling and Danhausen’s work as a wrestling and sports-entertainment personality.
These services include wrestling contests, live and personal appearances, wrestling exhibits and performances, wrestling news and information, and online interviews.
The application also identifies earlier dates of commercial use. The stylized face had been used in commerce on the listed goods from at least November 2018, while its use in connection with entertainment services dates to at least November 3, 2018.
Michael E. Dockins is identified as the attorney representing Danhausen in the application.
This timeline establishes that the trademark filing predates Danhausen’s WWE career by several years. Consequently, the November 2026 discussion concerns an existing intellectual-property filing rather than a newly submitted application connected to his recent WWE appearances.
What Does Danhausen’s Facepaint Trademark Actually Protect?
One important detail in the controversy is the distinction between protecting a specific design and claiming ownership over an entire style of makeup.
Danhausen’s application does not simply register every black-and-white facepaint design as his exclusive property. Instead, it identifies a particular stylized-face design and specifies the merchandise and entertainment services associated with the mark.
The trademark record also includes specimens demonstrating how the design was used. These show the facepaint during wrestling performances, alongside its use in connection with merchandise.
This distinction matters when considering the comparison with Juri, Master of the Revue.
The existence of a trademark registration does not automatically mean that every design resembling Danhausen’s makeup would constitute infringement. Trademark questions depend on the particular mark, the relevant goods or services and the circumstances surrounding a specific use.
Therefore, Danhausen’s comments about noticing similarities in the Magic card should not be treated as a legal determination that Wizards of the Coast infringed his trademark.
His November 3 clarification also makes clear that he was not announcing an intention to pursue the card’s creators.
Why Juri, Master of the Revue Became Part of the Controversy
The character at the centre of the discussion is Juri, Master of the Revue, introduced by Wizards of the Coast as part of Magic: The Gathering’s Commander Legends set in 2020.
Juri is associated with Ravnica, where the character serves as the master of the Juri Revue. The performances are built around dangerous and theatrical acts, giving the character a distinctive presentation.
Juri is identified as a Human Shaman and features a distinctive crown-like arrangement of blades.
The comparison with Danhausen’s facepaint emerged because fans noticed visual similarities between the character’s artwork and the wrestler’s established makeup.
Danhausen himself acknowledged seeing the resemblance during his 2025 interview. However, neither he nor Wizards of the Coast has publicly announced a legal dispute concerning the card.
It is also important to distinguish between the wrestler explaining what caught his attention and making an accusation against the company. His original comments described the card as something that looked similar to his makeup, not as an announcement that Wizards of the Coast had copied his design.
The Story Behind Danhausen’s Signature Facepaint
Danhausen’s makeup has become one of the defining features of his wrestling identity, helping establish the unusual character audiences recognise today.
According to his previous explanation, the original inspiration came from Pazuzu, the demon depicted in The Exorcist.
Danhausen wore makeup inspired by the character to a Halloween party before developing and modifying the appearance for his wrestling persona.
Over time, the design became closely associated with his “Very Nice, Very Evil” presentation.
The distinctive facepaint subsequently became an important part of his character’s identity, appearing during wrestling performances and in connection with his merchandise.
During his 2025 interview, Danhausen also discussed the trademark process and attorney Michael E. Dockins, who is listed on the 2020 application.
He said he believed he was the first wrestler to trademark his facepaint and discussed Sting subsequently working with the same attorney regarding his own signature appearance.
However, this remains Danhausen’s own characterisation of the history rather than an independently established finding from the trademark record.
Danhausen’s WWE Appearances Add to His Recent Visibility
The renewed trademark discussion comes during a prominent period for Danhausen in WWE.
The company’s official superstar profile describes him as the “very nice, very evil” character known for his jars of teeth and unusual appearances.
His visibility increased during WWE’s Halloween programming, beginning with “Danhausen’s Very Nice, Very Evil SmackDown” on October 30, 2026.
During the show, Danhausen’s storyline involved an encounter with Gunther and the return of “The Demon” Finn Bálor. WWE’s official results documented the segment.
The wrestler also featured around NXT Halloween Havoc on October 31, 2026, continuing his presence across the company’s Halloween programming.
These appearances provide context for why Danhausen has been attracting attention recently. However, there is no evidence that his WWE appearances caused the trademark discussion or that WWE is involved in the Magic-related situation.
Is Danhausen Taking Legal Action Against Magic: The Gathering?
Despite the online speculation, the available information does not establish any legal dispute between Danhausen and Wizards of the Coast.
There has been no verified announcement of a lawsuit concerning Juri, Master of the Revue. Similarly, no verified announcement of a cease-and-desist notice or other legal action directed at Wizards of the Coast over the artwork has been reported.
The timeline helps explain why the discussion became confusing.
Danhausen’s facepaint was already in use by November 2018. He filed his trademark application in November 2020. During his January 2025 interview, he explained that noticing a similar-looking Magic card, alongside fans pointing out the resemblance, had contributed to his decision to seek protection.
When those comments resurfaced on November 3, 2026, some users interpreted them as a potential legal threat against the franchise.
Danhausen subsequently rejected that interpretation, explaining that the trademark was not intended to let him sue people freely. His additional statement that he loves Magic further clarified his position.
Another Internet Controversy Story
Danhausen’s trademark discussion shows how an old comment can take on a different meaning when it resurfaces online years later. For another story examining how an online controversy developed, see the Greg Chism Toy Freaks controversy explainer.
Conclusion: Danhausen Says His Trademark Is About Protection, Not Lawsuits
Danhausen’s response has brought some much-needed context to a discussion that grew out of an older interview.
His facepaint trademark dates back to 2020 and covers a specific stylized-face design associated with particular merchandise and wrestling-related entertainment services. The resemblance he noticed in Magic: The Gathering’s Juri, Master of the Revue, was one factor he cited when explaining why he wanted trademark protection.
However, his November 3, 2026, comments reject the idea that he obtained the trademark simply to pursue other creators. He has also made his affection for Magic clear.
For now, the available information points to a clarification surrounding an existing trademark, not a legal battle between a WWE superstar and Wizards of the Coast.
Source and Research Disclaimer: This article has been prepared following research of the sources provided below, including WWE publications, Magic: The Gathering material, the original interview, trademark records and wrestling news reports. It reflects the information available in those sources at the time of writing and does not imply independent verification beyond the material provided. Further statements or legal developments may update the information presented.
Sources
- WWE, Danhausen Superstar Profile
- WWE, Danhausen presents “Danhausen’s Very Nice, Very Evil SmackDown”
- WWE, SmackDown results, October 30, 2026
- Magic: The Gathering, The Legendary Characters of Commander Legends, Part 2, including Juri, Master of the Revue
- Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Danhausen: Out Of Character Interview! AEW, Influences, Curses, Conan O’Brien, January 30, 2025
- U.S. trademark application record, Donovan Danhausen, Serial No. 90303521, filed November 6, 2020
- Trademark record for DANHAUSEN, Registration No. 6445975
- Wrestling Inc., WWE’s Danhausen Explains Why He Trademarked Custom Face Paint Design, November 3, 2026
- F4W/WON, Danhausen explains why he trademarked his signature face paint, November 3, 2026
- WrestleZone, Danhausen Sets the Record Straight on Face Paint Trademark Backlash, November 3, 2026
Featured Image Credit: Kevin Paul / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
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