WWE star Ludwig Kaiser has suffered a legal setback after a Florida judge rejected his motion to dismiss a misdemeanour battery charge.
According to court records and details from f4wonline.com, a judge denied Ludwig Kaiser’s motion to dismiss after a hearing on October 19, 2026. The case will now proceed, with a pre-trial conference scheduled for December 17, 2026.
The conference will provide both parties with an opportunity to discuss a potential resolution or determine whether the case will proceed to trial.
Ludwig Kaiser’s Self-Defence Argument Rejected
Ludwig Kaiser’s legal team had sought to have the charge dismissed under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, arguing that his actions were justified because he reasonably believed force was necessary to protect himself and his girlfriend, Andre Bazarte, from the imminent threat of unlawful force.
The charge stems from an alleged altercation involving Kaiser and Richard Reap at an Orlando apartment complex in April. Both parties acknowledge that Kaiser and Bazarte were affectionate inside an elevator, but their accounts of the subsequent confrontation differ considerably.
Reap alleges that he asked the couple to “please have some manners,” prompting Kaiser to physically attack him. However, Kaiser maintains that Reap became verbally aggressive towards him and Bazarte, including allegedly making a racist remark about contacting US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding Bazarte.
Kaiser has acknowledged pushing Reap during the confrontation but insists he acted in self-defence after Reap approached him aggressively. According to Kaiser, Reap then threw a soft drink bottle at him, but the WWE star did not retaliate. Kaiser claims he instead left the area with Bazarte to prevent the situation from escalating.
The original arrest report stated that police reviewed surveillance footage showing Reap being punched and pushed during the incident. Officers also reportedly observed a scratch on Reap’s head. Court records indicate that both Kaiser and Reap testified during the October 19 hearing.
Bazarte was added to the defence’s witness list, although it remains unclear whether she provided testimony. Prosecutors also submitted a CD and four photographs as evidence. These are believed to relate to the surveillance footage and photographs of Reap, although their contents have not been confirmed.
Reap has reportedly retained an attorney specialising in personal injury cases, suggesting he may be considering separate civil proceedings against Kaiser. However, no such lawsuit has been confirmed.
The legal developments come during a successful period in Kaiser’s professional wrestling career. The German wrestler has received considerable praise for his performances as El Grande Americano in Lucha Libre AAA, where he currently holds the AAA Mega Championship. Kaiser has not been convicted of the battery charge, and the allegations remain under ongoing legal review.
