Former WWE star Curtis Axel is facing multiple charges following an alleged drunk-driving incident at a McDonald’s drive-thru in St. Francis, Minnesota on May 17, per a criminal complaint filed in Anoka County.
Joseph Curtis Hennig was charged after officers from the St. Francis Police Department responded to a property damage crash at the McDonald’s on Saint Francis Boulevard Northwest at approximately 8:47 p.m. Officers arrived to find a truck driven by Hennig slowly navigating the parking lot.
According to the complaint, an officer detected a strong odor of alcohol and observed bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. When instructed to step out of the vehicle, Hennig allegedly refused. Officers opened the door, turned off the engine, and physically removed him from the truck after continued defiance.
A McDonald’s employee reported that Hennig had been mumbling in the drive-thru before swearing at staff, backing into another vehicle, and yelling at the female driver of the other car. An inventory search of his vehicle prior to towing reportedly yielded an open 750 mL bottle of Phillips vodka on the front passenger-side floorboard. While seated in a squad car, Hennig allegedly refused chemical testing and responded with profanities and a slur directed at officers.
Hennig faces the following charges: refusing to submit to a chemical test (gross misdemeanor), operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol (misdemeanor), interfering with a peace officer (misdemeanor), open bottle possession (misdemeanor), and disorderly conduct (misdemeanor). Bail was set at $0 by Judge Karen B. Schommer, with the option of posting $12,000 bail or bond with no conditions, or $0 release with conditions.
Hennig performed in WWE from 2007 to 2020 under the ring names Curtis Axel and Michael McGillicutty. He is the son of WWE Hall of Famer Curt Hennig and the grandson of wrestling legend Larry “The Axe” Hennig.