WWE star Ludwig Kaiser arrested in Orlando on battery charge

WWE star Ludwig Kaiser was arrested Wednesday in Orange County, Florida, on a misdemeanor battery charge after allegedly assaulting a neighbor at a luxury Orlando apartment complex following a confrontation over the wrestler’s public display of affection in an elevator.

Kaiser, whose legal name is Marcel Barthel, performs in the ring under both the Ludwig Kaiser and El Grande Americano names. He was 35 at the time of the incident.

According to an arrest affidavit, the incident allegedly occurred on the evening of April 23 at the Paramount on Lake Eola apartments on East Pine Street in Orlando. The complainant, identified in court documents as Richard Reap, told police he stepped into an elevator with Mr. Barthel and a woman who were behaving in an “uncontrollably intimate” manner. Mr. Reap alleged that when the elevator reached the 12th floor and he exited, he told the couple to “please have some manners” — a comment that he claimed prompted Mr. Barthel to punch him multiple times, shove him to the ground and issue violent verbal threats.

Officers documented a scratch on the back of Mr. Reap’s head and redness consistent with a recent altercation. Surveillance footage from the 12th floor reportedly showed a white male punching and pushing Mr. Reap outside the elevator at the time in question. According to the affidavit, Mr. Reap subsequently identified Mr. Barthel as the attacker in a photo lineup.

Mr. Barthel learned of the arrest warrant on Tuesday while in Mexico for work, according to court filings. He returned to Orlando and surrendered to authorities the following day and was released after posting a $1,000 bond. The warrant noted no allegations involving weapons, firearms, intoxication or shared residency between Mr. Barthel and Mr. Reap, and he was ordered to have no contact with victims or witnesses.

Through his attorney, Thomas D. Sommerville, Mr. Barthel has since entered a not-guilty plea and requested a trial. His defense team has also filed a motion seeking court approval for Mr. Barthel to travel outside Florida and internationally while the case is pending, citing his obligations as an international performer. The filing states he has no prior criminal history and maintains his innocence.

The arrest comes as Mr. Barthel is scheduled to compete in a high-profile mask-versus-mask match at Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide’s Noche de Los Grandes event on May 30 in Monterrey, Mexico. WWE has not issued a public statement.