Marcel Barthel, a WWE wrestler known as Ludwig Kaiser and El Grande Americano, was arrested in Florida on misdemeanor battery charges after an altercation with his neighbor on April 23 in an Orlando apartment complex [1, 2].
The incident started with a verbal dispute that escalated into a physical confrontation. Barthel allegedly assaulted and threatened his neighbor following a complaint about an "uncontrollably intimate" kissing episode involving a woman in an elevator [1].
Security footage helped identify Barthel, who was abroad in Mexico when authorities issued a warrant. He returned to Florida and voluntarily surrendered on the Wednesday before June 20. He was booked at Orange County Jail and released on $1,000 bail [1, 2].
Barthel, 35, born in Germany, joined WWE in 2017 and was originally part of the Imperium faction. He adopted the El Grande Americano persona after a colleague’s injury [2]. His attorney emphasized Barthel’s international wrestling career and Orlando residence as his primary home. "Mr. Barthel is an international performer who is required to travel throughout the United States and around the world to remain employed," said attorney Thomas D. Sommerville. He added Barthel has no criminal record and is not a danger, and requested court permission for him to travel pending case outcome [1].
Barthel waived his arraignment appearance, pled not guilty, and asked for 10 days to file motions challenging the charges [1].
Barthel is scheduled to appear at AAA’s Noche de Los Grandes event in Monterrey, Mexico, on May 30 for a mask vs. mask wrestling match against Chad Gable, the original El Grande Americano [1, 2].
