As we reported earlier today here on eWn, former WWE star Curtis Axel is facing multiple charges following an arrest in Minnesota earlier this month.
It has been years since fans repeatedly heard the name Curtis Axel in wrestling circles. Axel, whose real name is Joseph Curtis Hennig, debuted in WWE in 2007 and later became known for his runs with The Nexus and The Social Outcasts before being released in 2020 during WWE’s COVID-era budget cuts. He briefly returned to the corporate in 2022 as a producer but was let go after three months.
After making a short-lived return to wrestling in 2025, little has been publicly known about Hennig’s life outside the ring. Unfortunately, the most recent update involving the previous WWE star comes under troubling circumstances.
Based on a criminal criticism filed in Anoka County, Minnesota, the incident occurred on May 17, 2026, at roughly 8:47 PM local time, when the St. Francis Police Department responded to a property damage crash at a McDonald’s on Saint Francis Boulevard Northwest.
Upon arriving on the scene, officers reportedly observed Hennig’s truck moving slowly through the parking zone. Authorities stated that once they approached the vehicle, they noticed signs of intoxication, including a robust odor of alcohol, bloodshot and watery eyes, and slurred speech.
Police instructed Hennig to exit the vehicle, but in line with the criticism, he refused. Officers eventually removed him from the truck and brought him to the bottom before placing him in handcuffs.
The criticism further alleges that after being placed in a squad automotive and browse the Minnesota Breath Test Advisory, Hennig refused chemical testing and responded to officers with profanities and slurs.
A McDonald’s worker reportedly told police that Hennig had already appeared impaired while within the drive-thru line, allegedly mumbling and swearing at employees. The worker also claimed that Hennig backed into one other vehicle and yelled at the feminine driver after exiting his truck.
Before the vehicle was towed, officers conducted a listing search and reportedly discovered an open 750 mL bottle of Philips vodka on the front passenger-side floorboard.
Court documents show the offense date as May 17, with the case formally filed the next day. Judge Karen B. Schommer set conditions allowing either a $12,000 bail or bond without conditions, or release with conditions and no money bail requirement.
Hennig now faces five charges. They include refusing to undergo a chemical test while suspected of DWI, operating a motorcar drunk, obstructing legal process by interfering with a peace officer, violating Minnesota’s open bottle law, and disorderly conduct. The refusal-to-test charge is listed as a gross misdemeanor, while the remaining charges are misdemeanors.
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