Does Wilson Fisk Know Who Daredevil Is in ‘Born Again’? Explained

It’s been years since we last saw Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk slug it out in the gritty streets of Hell’s Kitchen. Now, with ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ hitting Disney+, the old rivals are back, and their story picks up in a fresh yet familiar way. Charlie Cox returns as the blind lawyer turned vigilante, while Vincent D’Onofrio steps back into the massive shoes of Fisk, the Kingpin. This time, though, things feel different. Fisk’s not just a crime lord anymore—he’s the mayor of New York City. And Matt? He’s trying to leave the red suit behind. But the big question is whether Kingpin still knows who’s under that Daredevil mask.

I’ve been digging into this since the show dropped, and it’s clear ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ isn’t starting from scratch. It builds on everything we’ve seen before—three seasons of the Netflix series, plus Fisk’s messy arcs in ‘Hawkeye’ and ‘Echo’. The history between these two is thick with tension, secrets, and brutal fights. So, as we dive into this new chapter, let’s unpack what Fisk knows about Daredevil’s identity and how it shapes their latest clash.

The Past Sets the Stage

Way back in the Netflix days, specifically season 3 of ‘Daredevil’, Fisk figured out Matt Murdock was Daredevil. It wasn’t a hunch—he had hard proof, thanks to digging into Matt’s life and some dirty tricks with the FBI. By the end of that season, after a savage showdown, they struck a deal. Fisk agreed to keep Matt’s secret if Daredevil didn’t go after his wife, Vanessa. Both ended up behind bars for a bit, but the deal stuck. That moment locked in Fisk’s knowledge, and it’s not something he’d forget.

Fast forward to 2021, and Fisk pops up in ‘Hawkeye’. He’s out of prison—how he managed that is still a bit murky—and running things with the Tracksuit Mafia. There’s no sign he’s lost his memory of Matt. Then, in ‘Echo’ in 2024, he’s still the same calculating guy, nursing a grudge after Maya Lopez shoots him in the face. His eye gets fixed, but his mind stays sharp. Nothing in these shows hints at him forgetting who Daredevil is.

So, when ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ kicks off, Fisk’s got that secret tucked away. He’s not shouting it from the rooftops yet, but he knows. The show treats this as a given, carrying over the Netflix canon into the MCU without hitting reset. It’s a quiet but heavy piece of their dynamic, simmering under the surface.

Fisk’s New Game as Mayor

Now mayor, Fisk’s playing a different angle in ‘Born Again’. He’s not lurking in the shadows—he’s out front, promising to clean up New York and crack down on vigilantes. He’s got power, and he’s using it. In the premiere, he even has a friendly coffee chat with Matt, both acting like they’ve moved on. But there’s an edge to it. Fisk chuckles when Matt jabs at him getting shot, and you can tell neither trusts the other. That scene screams they’re still tied by the past, and Fisk’s knowledge is part of it.

What’s wild is how he doesn’t spill the beans right away. He could tell the cops, ‘Hey, Matt Murdock’s Daredevil,’ and ruin him. But he doesn’t. Maybe it’s the old deal holding him back, or maybe he’s saving it for a bigger play. By episode 4, we see him juggling his marriage mess with Vanessa and dealing with this guy Adam she got close to. His focus is split, but his grip on Matt’s identity stays firm—he’s just choosing when to use it.

The show’s leaning into this tension. Fisk’s anti-vigilante campaign feels personal, like he’s daring Matt to suit up again. He knows who he’s hunting. It’s not about exposing Matt yet—it’s about control. Fisk’s always been a chess player, and this secret’s a piece he’s keeping in his pocket for the right moment.

How It Fuels the Fight

Matt’s trying to stay clean in ‘Born Again’, focusing on lawyering after losing Foggy to Bullseye in the premiere. But Fisk being mayor drags him back. Their history isn’t just baggage—it’s the spark. By episode 6, Matt’s in the red suit again, fighting a creepy new villain, Muse, while Fisk’s building an anti-vigilante task force. The clash is coming, and Fisk knowing Matt’s Daredevil makes it personal. It’s not some random hero he’s after—it’s the guy he’s hated for years.

Fisk’s silence on the secret adds layers. He’s not dumb—he’s strategic. In the comics, during the ‘Devil’s Reign’ arc, he uses his mayoral power to outlaw vigilantes, and we’re seeing echoes of that here. He could out Matt to the world, but that’d end the game too fast. Instead, he’s pushing Matt to break, to become Daredevil again, so he can crush him legally or otherwise.

For us watching, it’s thrilling. Every move Fisk makes—like smirking at Matt over coffee or flexing his new task force—feels loaded because he knows. It’s a slow burn to a big payoff. Whether he spills it by the end of the nine episodes or keeps it for season 2, this knowledge is the thread tying their rivalry together, making ‘Born Again’ a worthy next step in their bloody, personal war.