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WWE star Marcel Barthel aka Ludwig Kaiser aka El Grande Americano filed a motion this morning seeking dismissal of the misdemeanor battery charge pending against him, arguing that he is immune from prosecution under Florida's Stand Your Ground law. The motion comes a day before tomorrow's scheduled pre-trial hearing. Barthel was arrested in May arrest for battery, pleading not guilty after learning of a warrant for his arrest on charges of battery and traveling from Mexico to Florida to turn himself in to authorities.
A arrest affidavit stated that Orlando Police responded to an apartment complex (we are not publishing the address) at approximately 6:37 PM on 4/23 following reports of a physical altercation on the 12th floor of the building. The complainant, identified as Richard Reap, told officers that he entered an elevator around 6:30 PM and encountered Barthel alongside an unidentified woman. Reap alleged that the pair were acting in what he described as an “uncontrollably intimate” manner while inside the elevator. Reap stated that after exiting onto the 12th floor, he told the couple to “please have some manners.” According to the affidavit, Reap alleged that Barthel immediately responded by punching him multiple times, pushing him to the ground, and threatening additional violence.
In Barthel's motion to dismiss today, he contends that his actions constituted lawful self-defense and therefore qualify for statutory immunity under Florida law. The motion claims Barthel and his girlfriend (AAA's Andrea Bazarte, who was not named) were riding an elevator at his Orlando apartment complex on April 23, 2026, when Reap allegedly made hostile remarks, apparently offended by the couple "hugging" after exiting the elevator. Barthel's motion also states that Reap made a comment calling Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Barthel's girlfriend, who the motion states is of Mexican descent. The exact alleged quote was, "Have some respect before I call ICE on that b**ch."
The motion alleges that Barthel exited the elevator to verbally confront Reap over the comments but did not threaten or physically touch him. According to the defense, Reap then approached Barthel aggressively with raised hands, prompting Barthel to push him away out of concern that an assault was imminent. Barthel stated he returned to the elevator, but Reap again approached in what was characterized "as a threatening manner." Barthel allegedly pushed Reap away a second time before returning to the elevator with his girlfriend. The filing also states that Reap threw a soft drink bottle at Barthel, who did not respond with additional force and instead left the area, returning to the elevator and pressing the button to close the door.
Barthel's attorneys are arguing that he used only non-deadly force, was lawfully present in the common area of his apartment complex, and reasonably believed his actions were necessary to protect both himself and his girlfriend from imminent unlawful force. The motion emphasizes that Florida law does not require a person in those circumstances to retreat before defending themselves. The filing cites Florida's Stand Your Ground statutes, arguing that Barthel has established a "prima facie" claim of self-defense. Under the cited law, the defense contends the burden now shifts to the State to prove by clear and convincing evidence that Barthel was not entitled to statutory immunity.
The motion asks the court to dismiss the battery charge on the grounds that Barthel's use of force was legally justified and that he is immune from criminal prosecution under Florida law.
As PWInsider.com reported back in May, an arrest affidavit stated that Orlando Police responded to an apartment complex (we are not publishing the address) at approximately 6:37 PM on 4/23 following reports of a physical altercation on the 12th floor of the building. The complainant, Richard Reap, told officers that he entered an elevator around 6:30 PM and encountered Barthel alongside an unidentified woman. Reap alleged that the pair were acting in what he described as an “uncontrollably intimate” manner while inside the elevator. Reap stated that after exiting onto the 12th floor, he told the couple to “please have some manners.”
According to the affidavit, Reap alleged that Barthel immediately responded by punching him multiple times, pushing him to the ground, and threatening additional violence. The responding officer noted observing a fresh scratch and redness on the back of Reap’s head, which police stated was consistent with a recent altercation. The affidavit stated that responding officers also reviewed surveillance footage from the 12th floor, with that video allegedly showing a white male punching and pushing Reap outside the elevator at the reported time of the incident. The footage has not been released.
Police later identified Marcel Barthel as the suspect through investigative means. The affidavit states that Reap subsequently identified Barthel in a six-person photographic lineup conducted later that evening. Based on the investigation, officers determined probable cause existed for a simple battery charge under Florida Statute 784.03(1)(A). The warrant notes there were no allegations involving weapons, firearms, intoxication, or shared residency between the parties involved.
Barthel was reportedly ordered to have no contact with victims or witnesses and was granted one supervised return to the apartment accompanied by law enforcement. He has been given permission to continue his international travel for WWE bookings as the case progresses, as long as he appears as required for court hearings.
Since his arrest, Barthel's attorneys filed a motion to secure the video footage from the elevator, which one would think would prove what took place during the incident.
Neither Barthel nor WWE have commented on the arrest as of this writing.
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