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UPDATE ON BRET HART ATTACKER CASE

By Mike Johnson on 2019-10-08 09:53:00

An arrest warrant was issued on 9/10 for Zachary Madsen, the man arrested after attacking WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart at the WWE Hall of Fame this past April, after he did not appear in court as scheduled on 9/9 in Kings Criminal Court in Brooklyn that day.   Court records indicate the Nebraska native was returned on the warrant (which means he was picked up by authorities) and appeared before the court on 9/24.  He is slated for another hearing on 11/12.  Madsen is not currently listed as in custody.

Madsen has been charged with two counts of assault in the third degree as well as trespassing after hitting the ring that was being used as the stage for the acceptance speeches to tackle Bret Hart, taking down the WWE Hall of Famer and his niece, WWE star Natalya Neidhart.  In New York, Assault in the third degree is an A misdemeanor and can be punishable in up to a year in jail per count, should Madsen be found guilty. 

After tackling Hart, Madsen was immediately besieged by a number of pro wrestlers, including Hart’s nephew Davey Boy Smith Jr., New Day, Shane McMahon, Curtis Axel, Heath Slater and many others.  Video of the incident clearly shows Dash Wilder drilling Madsen with an incredible punch as well  After Madsen was dragged out of the Barclays Center, Drake Maverik, who had entered the fray, demanded that everyone ignore him and have Bret Hart continue his acceptance speech for the Hart Foundation, which Bret did to thunderous applause.

Hart and security guard Thaddeus Jones(who had been kicked in the ribs by Madsen) were each examined after the incident at a local hospital but released.  Hart was dealing with pain and stiffness in his hip after the incident.

Madsen allegedly told authorities, "It felt like it was the right time" for him to attack Hart.

Madsen’s Twitter account featured a number of strange tweets towards WWE personalities, including Triple H (demanding that women not be allowed to headline Wrestlemania), Vince McMahon (featuring a photo of himself painted up as Batman foe the Joker and wearing the costume hat he wore when charging the ring) and others. 

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