After the Carolina Hurricanes fell in double overtime Saturday night and slipped behind 2-1 in the Stanley Cup Final, some fans decided it was time to deal with what they believed was the real problem: a professional wrestling curse.
The alleged culprit? WWE wrestler Danhausen.
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Known for his "very nice, very evil" persona, Danhausen has built a devoted following online by posting Cameo videos "cursing" sports teams. While entirely tongue-in-cheek, the gimmick has become something of a running joke among fans looking for any edge during the postseason.
Last weekend, a Vegas Golden Knights fan paid Danhausen to curse what he called the "Karolina Hurricañes" ahead of Game 3.
Hours later, Carolina lost.
For Hurricanes fan Preston Brown, that was reason enough to act.
Brown launched an online fundraiser to pay Danhausen to remove the curse from the Hurricanes. The goal: $360, the cost of the wrestler's Cameo appearance.
"I figured if we're going to do this, we might as well do it right," Brown said.
Brown says fellow Caniacs reached the fundraising goal within minutes. Another Hurricanes fan separately paid Danhausen to place a curse on the Golden Knights.
Then came Tuesday night.
The Hurricanes defeated Vegas in Game 4, evening the Stanley Cup Final at two games apiece and prompting fans across social media to jokingly celebrate the apparent success of their efforts.
Danhausen has not yet posted a video officially lifting the curse, but Brown says fans are eagerly awaiting it.
"If you follow WWE, you know it's a big deal if he curses or uncurses you," Brown said.
Brown admits he doesn't actually believe a professional wrestler is determining the outcome of hockey games. But he says playoff hockey and superstition have always gone hand in hand.
"When it comes down to it, hockey fans and hockey players, it's all about superstition," Brown said. "People grow the beard out. People don't wash their clothes. People wear the same shirt every game."
Danhausen's reputation as a sports curse-maker grew earlier this year during the NBA playoffs. A New York Knicks fan paid him to "uncurse" the team during a rough stretch. Later, he publicly cursed the Cleveland Cavaliers before the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavaliers went on to lose the series, fueling the joke online.
Of course, there is no evidence that professional wrestling curses influence hockey games.
Still, with the Stanley Cup Final now tied and Game 5 returning to Raleigh, Hurricanes fans seem willing to try just about anything to help bring the Cup home.