WWE star Marcel Barthel, who performs as Ludwig Kaiser and El Grande Americano, was arrested Wednesday and charged with misdemeanor battery following an incident last month. The arrest stems from an alleged altercation in an elevator where Barthel is accused of assaulting a man who asked him to show manners.
According to the arrest warrant, Barthel and a woman were reportedly kissing aggressively in an elevator. When the elevator reached the 12th floor, a man named Richard Reap exited and told the couple to have manners. Barthel allegedly responded by punching Reap multiple times and pushing him to the ground. Surveillance footage reportedly captured the incident.
Barthel has pleaded not guilty to the charge. It remains unclear who the woman involved was, though Barthel has been linked to WWE host Andrea Bazarte and previously dated former champion Tiffany Stratton.
Barthel signed with WWE in 2017 and has portrayed Ludwig Kaiser, a henchman for Gunter. He recently took on the role of El Grande Americano after Chad Gable's injury, a character that has become popular, especially with fans of Mexican promotion AAA, recently acquired by WWE. Kaiser and Gable are scheduled for a mask vs. mask match at an upcoming AAA show.
According to PW Insider, Barthel's attorneys have filed a motion to allow him to travel freely despite the arrest. Barthel was in Mexico when he learned of the warrant and immediately flew to Orlando to surrender.
