WWE star Ludwig Kaiser remains involved in a legal case stemming from an alleged altercation inside an Orlando elevator earlier this year.
Kaiser, whose real name is Marcel Barthel, is facing a misdemeanor battery charge related to an April 23 incident in Orlando, Florida. According to an affidavit, Richard Reap accused Kaiser of punching him multiple times after Reap encountered Kaiser and his partner, Andrea Bazarte, inside an elevator.
Reap’s account alleges that Kaiser and Bazarte were behaving in an “uncontrollably intimate” manner and that he asked them to “please have some manners.”
Kaiser has disputed that version of events.
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Ludwig Kaiser Claimed He Acted in Self-Defense
In a July motion seeking dismissal under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, Kaiser alleged that Reap made loud and confrontational comments toward the couple after seeing them hugging, including telling them to show some respect.
Kaiser’s filing also alleged that Reap threatened to call ICE on Bazarte, who is Mexican, before approaching Kaiser aggressively with his hands raised. Kaiser maintained that he repeatedly pushed Reap away as Reap continued advancing toward him and argued that his use of force was legally justified.
The case returned to court Monday, when Judge Andrew L. Cameron denied Kaiser’s motion to dismiss. A pretrial conference is now scheduled for Dec. 17.
The case has not prevented Kaiser from continuing his wrestling career. He currently performs primarily on WWE’s AAA programming as the masked El Grande Americano and holds the AAA Mega Championship.
Monday’s ruling does not determine Kaiser’s guilt. It means his attempt to have the charge dismissed on statutory-immunity grounds was unsuccessful and the case will continue.
