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Tag: Ludwig Kaiser

  • WWE Hall of Famer On Ludwig Kaiser Arrest: ‘I’m On My Buddy’s Side’

    WWE Hall of Famer On Ludwig Kaiser Arrest: ‘I’m On My Buddy’s Side’

    WWE Hall of Famer AJ Styles has publicly come to the defense of Ludwig Kaiser following Kaiser’s arrest on battery charges in Orlando, Florida, saying he believes the alleged victim got what was coming to him.

    Kaiser faced allegations of punching a neighbor who reportedly complained about Kaiser’s intimate behavior with his girlfriend in an elevator and allegedly threatened to call immigration authorities on her. WWE’s reaction to the arrest has also drawn attention in the days since the incident.

    AJ Styles Shares His Thoughts On Ludwig Kaiser

    The former WWE Champion addressed the situation on his “Phenomenally Retro” podcast, making clear he does not believe the alleged victim’s account and that something serious must have provoked his friend and fellow WWE superstar.

    “He is the definition of a class act. And so, to hear something like this happen, immediately I go, ‘Oh. He must have really been pissed off about something to go like and do something like this,’” Styles said.

    Styles went further, suggesting the alleged victim was likely jealous and deserved the confrontation.

    “I know Kaiser well, very well. And if something were said that pissed him off enough to fight with someone? They deserved it,” he said. “I don’t believe that, not for one second.”

    He also drew a personal parallel, saying he would react violently if someone threatened his wife or children.

    “When you say something about my wife or my kids? Bro, it’s going to get violent real fast,” Styles added.

    “I will not let them be yelled at or talked to in any certain way.”

    Styles closed by making his loyalty clear:

    “I’m going to be on my buddy’s side. I believe that this guy probably got what was coming to him.”

    There are also separate reports suggesting the ICE angle of the story may not be straightforward — one report indicates the ICE story is believed to be a plant. A separate account has also pushed back on the accuser’s version of events.

  • WWE Star Posted $1,000 Bail For Ludwig Kaiser

    WWE Star Posted $1,000 Bail For Ludwig Kaiser

    A fellow WWE star posted bail for Ludwig Kaiser after the latter was arrested for misdemeanor battery in Orange County, Florida.

    The 35-year-old was arrested after allegedly attacking a man who confronted him for getting intimate with a woman at the scene.

    Kaiser whose real name is Marcel Barthel was charged with battery. The accuser claimed that the former Imperium member assaulted him after complaining about him “aggressively kissing” his girlfriend by the elevator.

    Kaiser was taken into custody on May 20 after he learned of the arrest warrant the day prior. At that time, Kaiser was booked and charged with one count of battery. He was quickly released on a $1,000 bond.

    Gunther Posted Bail For Ludwig Kaiser

    As per court records, Kaiser’s former Imperium teammate Gunther is listed as the person who posted his bail. Gunther posted two payments of $500, totaling $1000 to cover the bail amount.

    Ludwige Kaiser is scheduled for a Mask vs. Mask match against Original El Grande Americano at a Lucha Libre AAA event called “Noches de Los Grandes” on May 31.

  • Backstage News On Whether Ludwig Kaiser Has Heat Within WWE After Arrest

    Backstage News On Whether Ludwig Kaiser Has Heat Within WWE After Arrest

    WWE star Ludwig Kaiser has no heat within WWE following his recent arrest for misdemeanor battery in Orange County, Florida, according to a new report. Sources within the company believe the charges against the WWE superstar will eventually be dismissed.

    The 35-year-old was arrested after allegedly attacking a man who confronted him for getting intimate with a woman at the scene.

    Fightful Select reported that Kaiser, whose real name is Marcel Barthel, is not facing any internal consequences over the incident in Orlando.

    The arrest led to speculation about Kaiser’s ongoing push as El Grande Americano in AAA, where he is scheduled to face OG El Grande Americano in a mask vs. mask match at Noche de Los Grandes.

    A judge has cleared Kaiser to travel during his legal case, meaning the match should proceed as planned.

    WWE Planted ICE Defense Story

    As per Fightful Select, the story about Kaiser defending himself and Andrea Bazarte from ICE comments was planted by WWE. An unfamiliar number reached out to several wrestling media outlets with the narrative, rather than Kaiser, Bazarte, or WWE’s official team making the statement directly.

    Some WWE talent reportedly found the defense narrative unbelievable and felt Kaiser should have simply removed himself from the situation rather than engaging physically. Despite these internal opinions, the company has not taken any disciplinary action against the superstar.

    Kaiser continues his regular schedule with WWE while the legal case proceeds. The misdemeanor battery charge stems from the April incident, with Kaiser expected to address the matter through the legal system in the coming months.

  • Ludwig Kaiser Accuser Gets Slammed: ‘Was Anybody Naked?’

    Ludwig Kaiser Accuser Gets Slammed: ‘Was Anybody Naked?’

    Jim Cornette recently weighed in on the Ludwig Kaiser arrest story, defending the WWE star and roasting his accuser in typical Cornette fashion.

    The veteran wrestling personality addressed the situation during a recent episode of the Jim Cornette Experience podcast.

    Kaiser, who has no prior criminal record, was allegedly involved in an incident at his apartment building. According to reports, the situation stemmed from an elevator encounter that escalated into a physical confrontation.

    Cornette Questions The Accuser’s Motives

    Cornette didn’t hold back in his assessment of the situation.

    “There’s more to this story because I’ve seen guys through the years make issues in f****** hotels. And then also, I’ve seen people make issues with guys at hotels where there weren’t any or shouldn’t have been any,” he said on his podcast.

    The WWE veteran then highlighted Kaiser’s clean record and current career trajectory.

    “This is a guy who is in his mid-30s, and apparently, now we know for sure, because they’ve run him. He has no criminal record anywhere. And like you said, in the best run of his life, and is not going out and looking for trouble, and nobody’s ever had anything to say that he’s a problem of any kind.”

    Cornette specifically addressed the nature of the elevator incident.

    “The f****** guy in the elevator. Whether he was bothered by them kissing, It wasn’t a blowj**. Was anybody naked? What is his problem anyway? But I guarantee you that the verbiage, and this will come out probably, hopefully, when they adjudicate this thing. If they don’t just outright dismiss it, I guarantee you the verbiage was not ‘please.’”

    Defense Of Kaiser’s Actions

    Cornette suggested the accuser provoked the situation.

    “That’s probably not the first word. And it certainly wasn’t all the words, because this is a guy that probably f****** bowed up and f****** said some s*** he shouldn’t have said. To start something with Kaiser for Kaiser to leave what he was doing, which was obviously more fun.”

    He also noted the location and timing of the incident.

    “It’s 6:30 in the evening, and it is his own elevator in his own apartment building. Not like in the godd*** elevator of the airport in Philly at f****** 2 a.m.”

    Cornette concluded by questioning the severity of the alleged assault.

    “So suddenly, for no reason, this guy flips out and starts punching people? No, I think Reaper had a f****** mouth on him, and he ran it in some fashion. And again, if Kaiser was going to hurt him seriously, I haven’t seen a picture of this guy, but I would have a hard time believing that if Kaiser wanted to hurt him, the only thing he’d have is a scratch on his neck.”

    Kaiser is scheduled for a Mask vs. Mask match against Original El Grande Americano at a Lucha Libre AAA event called “Noches de Los Grandes” on May 31.

  • WWE’s Reaction To Ludwig Kaiser’s Arrest

    WWE’s Reaction To Ludwig Kaiser’s Arrest

    WWE is not expected to discipline Ludwig Kaiser following his arrest last week, according to False Finish.

    Kaiser, whose real name is Marcel Barthel, was arrested after footage captured him in an altercation with a neighbor. Police identified him from the footage and issued a warrant for his arrest. Dave Meltzer addressed the incident on Wrestling Observer Radio, laying out what is known.

    “There is footage of what happened, so the idea that nothing happened — that is not the case. The guy didn’t know who the guy was who attacked him. Police saw the footage and they identified him as Barthel. And then they put out a warrant for his arrest after identifying him. So, that much had happened.”

    Meltzer also addressed the ICE angle that has circulated around the story, which contributed to Kaiser being viewed sympathetically by many online.

    “If the guy said the ICE thing and if his girlfriend was there — it’s a dumb thing to say. If he didn’t say it — if he said, ‘have some manners,’ you know, he shouldn’t have said it. Could have just let it go. But he didn’t. And then the other guy escalated it physically. That was the situation. It is interesting how the usage of that ‘ICE’ thing, they managed to turn him babyface to many, many people. It also created the story that he actually didn’t punch the guy.”

    Raj Giri, who originally reported that ICE could have been involved in the incident, pushed back on Meltzer’s framing on Twitter.

    “I heard a clip of Dave talking about my Ludwig Kaiser story. And this is a perfect example of him stating stuff as fact when it’s not true at all. He made it sound like it was a WWE planted story. I usually never discuss sources, but I will say this. I was never once contacted by WWE PR regarding this, and I never reached out to them.”

  • Watch: Ludwig Kaiser Receives Grand Welcome In Mexico After Arrest

    Watch: Ludwig Kaiser Receives Grand Welcome In Mexico After Arrest

    Ludwig Kaiser has returned.

    AAA had originally cancelled the Serenata for El Grande Americano event scheduled for Thursday night after the WWE star was arrested on May 20. He had been in Mexico when Kaiser learned of the arrest warrant issued in his name, and he returned to the US. He was released on a $1,000 bond not long after his arrest.

    The WWE star had entered a not-guilty plea and filed a motion to allow international travel. The motion seems to have been granted as Ludwig, under the El Grande Americano persona, took part in the serenade that was held in Mexico City on Friday after the initial cancellation.

    As seen in the videos coming out of the event, Americano received a huge ovation from the crowd, and he seemed genuinely moved by the support of the people after his recent troubles:

    There are multiple accounts going around about the incident in Orlando that led to Ludwig Kaiser’s arrest. The alleged victim Richard Reap, is claiming that the wrestling star attacked him in a hotel after being advised to act decently in public. Another story being shared, however, states that Reap threatened to call ICE on the former Imperium star, leading to a scuffle.

    In any case, Kaiser’s return to Mexico is a good sign for the AAA star. It indicates that his upcoming Mask vs. Mask match with the Original El Grande Americano, scheduled for the May 30, AAA Noche de Los Grandes event, will go ahead as planned.

  • AAA Event Cancelled After Ludwig Kaiser’s Arrest

    AAA Event Cancelled After Ludwig Kaiser’s Arrest

    WWE has cancelled an event.

    El Grande Americano, aka Ludwig Kaiser, was scheduled to be honored with a special serenade at the Kings League in Mexico City this week. The event organized by Kings League México in collaboration with AAA was scheduled to be held on Thursday.

    The official AAA Lucha Libre account on Instagram, however, confirmed via a story earlier in the day that the event has been cancelled:

    “The ‘Serenata for El Grande Americano’ event scheduled for tonight in Mexico City has been canceled. We appreciate your understanding.”

    Real name Marcel Barthel, Kaiser was arrested on May 20 in Orange County, Florida. The arrest stems from an alleged altercation at the Paramount on Lake Eola Hotel in Orlando on April 23. Ludwig has since been released after posting the $1,000 bond.

    Richard Reap, who filed the complaint alleges that he entered an elevator with Kaiser and an unknown female at approximately 6:30 p.m. ET. The couple were acting ‘uncontrollably intimate,’ so Reap told them to ‘please have some manners.’ Per Reap, this led to the WWE superstar assaulting him and shoving him to the ground.

    Kaiser, as El Grande Americano, is set for a big match at the May 30, AAA Noche de Los Grandes event. He has been booked to face the Original El Grande Americano in a mask vs. mask match. Neither WWE nor Ludwig has commented on the arrest yet, and there is no word on if it will affect the upcoming bout in any way.

  • Details On Ludwig Kaiser Arrest On Battery Charge In Florida

    Details On Ludwig Kaiser Arrest On Battery Charge In Florida

    Ludwig Kaiser, whose real name is Marcel Barthel, was arrested on May 20 on a charge of battery in Orange County, Florida. The WWE Superstar posted $1,000 bond and was released from custody.

    As per an arrest warrant from the Circuit Court of the Ninth Judicial Court in Orange County, Kaiser entered a not-guilty plea through written filing and waived his in-person arraignment appearance. The case has been assigned to Judge Jeramy C. Beasley, with future court dates pending.

    Details Of The Alleged Incident

    Officer Victor Cortes provided a sworn affidavit detailing the misdemeanor battery charge stemming from an incident on April 23. The alleged altercation occurred at Paramount on Lake Eola in Orlando.

    According to the affidavit, Richard Reap entered an elevator at approximately 6:30 p.m. ET and was followed by a male suspect, believed to be Kaiser, and an unknown female.

    Reap claimed the couple began acting in an “uncontrollably intimate” manner, described as aggressively kissing.

    After reaching the 12th floor, Reap said he told the couple to “please have some manners.” Reap alleged that the male suspect then assaulted him, punching him multiple times and shoving him to the ground while making additional threats of violence.

    Officer Cortes observed a large, fresh scratch on the back of Reap’s head along with redness, which he believed was consistent with a physical altercation.

    Officer Benavides reviewed surveillance footage from the 12th floor, observing a white male punching and pushing Reap outside the elevator at the reported time.

    Officers identified Kaiser as the possible suspect matching the description from the surveillance footage. Kaiser is a current resident of the apartment complex. Reap later identified Kaiser from a photo lineup as the person who battered him.

    Travel Motion Filed

    Kaiser filed a motion to allow out-of-state and international travel. The motion stated that Kaiser only became aware of the warrant while in Mexico on work and traveled to Orlando to address it by posting bond.

    The motion highlighted that Kaiser is an international performer who needs to travel outside of Florida and has no criminal record. Defense filings confirm Kaiser has no prior criminal history.

  • Ludwig Kaiser Arrested On Battery Charge In Florida

    Ludwig Kaiser Arrested On Battery Charge In Florida

    Reports have emerged that WWE superstar Ludwig Kaiser, real name Marcel Barthel, was arrested in Orange County, Florida on a battery charge.

    His arrest was noted on the Orange County Mugshots 2.0 Facebook page and on Recently Booked. The reports alleged Kaiser, who currently goes by El Grande Americano in WWE, was booked on May 20 at 2:37 PM with a bond set at $1,000.

    The charge stemmed from an altercation with a male rather than a domestic situation. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful reported:

    “Ludwig Kaiser is listed online as being arrested in Florida this week.

    We’ve asked WWE for comment and will update with additional info.

    The arrest is accurate. We’re told the battery charge was against a male after an altercation. Not a domestic situation as some are speculating”

    Kaiser is scheduled for a Mask vs. Mask match against Original El Grande Americano at a Lucha Libre AAA event called “Noches de Los Grandes” on May 31.

    WWE has not issued any statement regarding the arrest.

  • Is Ric Flair’s Erratic Behavior All Part of the Plan?

    Is Ric Flair’s Erratic Behavior All Part of the Plan?

    Ric Flair has spent a lifetime demanding your attention. The sparkly robes. The limousines. The “WOOO.” The Nature Boy built an entire career — a legend — on being impossible to ignore. And now, years after his last match, he’s still at it.

    The latest chapter: Flair publicly threatening WWE Superstar Ludwig Kaiser on social media, claiming it got him banned from WrestleMania 42. He later issued an apology, but not before the internet spent a full news cycle talking about him. Mission accomplished?

    According to WWE Hall of Famer Teddy Long — who worked alongside Flair for years — that’s exactly the point.

    “That’s How You Stay Relevant”

    Speaking on the Road Trip After Hours podcast, Long didn’t mince words when asked about Flair’s latest blow-up.

    “What has he done now,” Long said with a knowing laugh. “That’s how you stay relevant.”

    It’s a short quote, but it speaks volumes coming from someone who knows the Nature Boy as well as Long does. This isn’t a man losing his grip on reality. This is a calculated peacock spreading his feathers — the same way he always has.

    The Nature Boy Has Always Been This Way

    Think about what made Ric Flair, Ric Flair. It wasn’t just the in-ring brilliance — it was the show. The sequined robes that cost more than most people’s cars. The jet-flying, limousine-riding lifestyle that he broadcast to every wrestling fan in America. The promos where he’d scream about being the stylin’, profilin’, kissin’-stealing, wheelin’-n-dealin’ son of a gun.

    Flair understood something most wrestlers never do: the character doesn’t clock out when the camera turns off. The Nature Boy is a 24/7 performance, and the controversy, the drama, the outbursts — they’re all part of the act.

    He’s been doing this his entire career. The only difference now is that the ring has been replaced by X.

    A Man Who Won’t Leave the Spotlight

    The backstory to the Kaiser incident traces back to 2025, when Tiffany Stratton made comments during a program involving Charlotte Flair that the Nature Boy took personally. Flair went after Kaiser publicly, WWE reportedly pulled his WrestleMania invitation, and the whole saga played out online in real time — with millions of wrestling fans watching every post.

    Whether you find it entertaining or exhausting, one thing is undeniable: you knew about it. You’re reading about it right now.

    Teddy Long — a man who spent decades in the business and watched legends come and go — sees it for exactly what it is. Ric Flair isn’t unraveling. He’s working. He’s always been working.

    The Nature Boy isn’t done commanding attention. He’s just doing it from a different stage.

  • Ric Flair Publicly Apologizes to Ludwig Kaiser After WrestleMania Ban

    Ric Flair Publicly Apologizes to Ludwig Kaiser After WrestleMania Ban

    Ric Flair has publicly apologized to Ludwig Kaiser, walking back his previous comments about the WWE star in a post on X on Monday afternoon.

    “Mr. Ludwig Kaiser, I never implied that you couldn’t work, or didn’t have talent. I actually understand that you are doing really well with The Undertaker’s promotion,” Flair wrote. “I am sorry that I got upset. I am naturally very protective of my daughters as I am sure as you grow older, you will be too.”

    Flair continued: “I apologize for anything I said about you personally. It was not about your professional skill which I have heard is very good.”

    What Led to the Apology

    The apology comes weeks after Flair revealed that a confrontation with Kaiser was the reason WWE did not invite him to WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. Flair previously admitted to threatening Kaiser, saying his protective instincts as a father got the better of him. WWE reportedly responded by pulling his WrestleMania invitation.

    The reference to Kaiser “doing really well with The Undertaker’s promotion” is a nod to WWE AAA, where Undertaker is heavily involved behind the scenes and Kaiser, well…

    Flair’s decision to issue the public apology suggests an effort to mend fences, both with Kaiser personally and potentially with WWE as the company moves forward after WrestleMania season.

  • Ric Flair Reveals WWE Blocked WrestleMania 42 Invite After Threatening Ludwig Kaiser

    Ric Flair Reveals WWE Blocked WrestleMania 42 Invite After Threatening Ludwig Kaiser

    WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair was not invited to WrestleMania 42 this past weekend, and he has now revealed the reason why.

    The 16-time world champion explained that a threatening phone call he made to Ludwig Kaiser roughly a year ago led to WWE keeping him away from the event.

    Speaking to Ariel Helwani, ‘Nature Boy’ said that the incident stemmed from comments made during the heated feud between Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton ahead of WrestleMania 41. Tiffany made remarks about Charlotte’s real-life divorces, and ‘The Queen’ responded on television by suggesting Kaiser had been in her DMs.

    Phone Call Led to WrestleMania Ban

    ‘The Nature Boy’ confirmed that WWE made the decision not to extend an invitation to WrestleMania 42 as a direct result of the phone call. He acknowledged that his actions crossed a line with the company.

    “I didn’t get invited to WrestleMania this year. I threatened to beat up Tiffany Stratton’s boyfriend last year and I wasn’t allowed to go. A 24-year-old kid, threatened, by a 76-year-old man, and I can’t go to WrestleMania. Are you kidding me? That English kid. He’s going to go as far in wrestling as a gnat. He’ll be a fly on the wall in a year,” Flair said.

    Ric Flair said he was angry over remarks made by Tiffany and claimed the comments weren’t genuine. He ended by mocking the Kaiser’s career and called him a “punk.”

    “They had that thing where Tiffany made smart remarks about Ashley’s divorces, which we both know she’s not smart enough to have written, somebody gave her the script. He implied that he wouldn’t ‘bum one’ off Ashley. Okay, I need your number, and I got it, because I can get anyone’s number that I want any minute of any day.

    I called him and said, ‘When I see you, I’m going to beat the sh*t out of you.’ He went like a little b*tch, told Hunter, and I wasn’t allowed to go. He’s going to really go far in the business. A 76-year-old tells a 24-year-old kid that he’s going to kick his ass and where is he now? Is he even on the roster? Little punk,” Flair said.

    WrestleMania 42 took place this past weekend without the Hall of Fame legend in attendance. The two-night event featured multiple championship matches and marquee bouts across both Raw and SmackDown brands.

  • Popular WWE Star Expected Back For Royal Rumble 2026

    A much-anticipated WWE return might be happening soon.

    WWE star Chad Gable has been out of action since June this year due to a shoulder injury. His last match was a successful Speed Title defence against Berto, which aired on X.

    Now Fightful Select is reporting that the former Olympian has been at Performance Center recently, training for an imminent return to TV.

    While the exact date for his comeback is not known, the site notes that the company is planning for the former champion to be back by the Royal Rumble on January 31, or even before that.

    Gable had been wrestling as himself and El Grande Americano at the same time before his unfortunate injury. The success of the Americano character had led to the former Alpha Academy leader getting his first singles WrestleMania match as well as his first singles title in WWE.

    Ludwig Kaiser took over the gimmick in Chad Gable\’s absence from TV. He also continued Americano\’s reign with the WWE Speed title until November, when Kaiser lost the belt to Jasper Troy on NXT.

    The former Imperium member has only added to the popularity of the Americano persona. So we\’ll have to see how the company takes the story forward once Gable is back on TV.