JBL Defends Ludwig Kaiser Following Recent Arrest Controversy

Questions continue to surround Ludwig Kaiser’s recent arrest, and now WWE Hall of Famer JBL has weighed in with strong support for the former Imperium member while questioning both sides of the story.

During an episode of Something to Wrestle, JBL and Conrad Thompson discussed the misdemeanor battery charge involving Kaiser. The conversation turned toward an alternate version of events reportedly shared by former Wrestling Inc owner Raj Giri, which contradicted details included in the official police report.

According to Giri’s account, Kaiser allegedly confronted a neighbor after the man threatened to call ICE on Kaiser’s girlfriend, Andrea Bazarte, following an encounter in an elevator where the couple had reportedly been showing affection. The version relayed by Giri also claimed Kaiser never threw any punches during the incident.

While none of those claims have been verified, the alleged victim, Richard Reap, did file a police report detailing his version of events. JBL made it clear he is skeptical of both narratives and believes the reality likely falls somewhere between the two stories being shared publicly.

“Yeah, I think it’s bullst. I think both sides are bullst. Obviously, this story was made up to help him. And I don’t know how much was made-up, but if I’m getting arrested, that’s the story I make up, that exact story right there,” JBL said. “I don’t know if this came from Kaiser. I don’t know where this came from. But all of a sudden, this spins perfectly to make him the babyface. I mean, do you believe that story is 100% true?”

JBL went on to explain that he does not see the situation as particularly serious, while also stressing that there are major holes in each version of the story.

“I don’t think this is a big deal. I want to make it clear about this that I’m fine with what Kaiser did here; I have no problem with this. This is bullst. The whole thing’s bullst. I think that story is bullst on one side. The guy’s story on the other side is bullst. I don’t know what this guy had a problem with on the elevator. A young couple is making out on an elevator. Come on, man. Who is this dude? And all of a sudden, you say something about it,” JBL said.

The WWE legend added that although the full truth remains unclear, he understands why Kaiser may have reacted if offensive comments were made toward his girlfriend. JBL also criticized the neighbor for allegedly escalating the situation and contacting police afterward.

According to JBL, Kaiser has never struck him as someone looking for trouble, and he hopes the incident does not negatively impact his standing within WWE. Conrad Thompson added that if the reported ICE comment actually happened, it could make Kaiser even more popular with Mexican wrestling fans due to his current connection with AAA.

JBL joked that Kaiser, especially under his El Grande Americano persona, is already wildly popular in Mexico and said defending his girlfriend against a derogatory remark would only increase that support.

“This is something that couldn’t be better for Kaiser. Let this story get out there. I don’t know if the story is true or not. I don’t really believe either side of the story, the extremes. Because what do you do when you get in trouble? The guy who calls is going to fill his version of the story. He’s going to jade it his way. Then the defence is going to come, and they’re going to jade it your way. You know, the truth is somewhere in the middle,” JBL said.

JBL closed out the discussion by firmly backing Kaiser, even while admitting he does not know exactly what took place during the altercation.

“I’m on Kaiser’s side on this. The guy had no business saying anything to him. I get it. Kaiser’s not the guy who ends up punching somebody. I don’t know who this d*****bag was that called the cops, but screw this guy.

“I want to make it clear, I’m not passing judgment. I’ve been in enough, seen enough altercations to know that both sides end up going a little bit away from the truth. The truth is somewhere in the middle. I am 100% behind Kaiser on this. Unequivocally, I’m backing this guy. He thinks he’s a good guy. He’s not a hothead to me. If something happened here, the guy (the neighbor), I think, deserved it. So I don’t know what happened, but I am 100% backing Kaiser,” JBL said.

Tiffany Stratton Set For Women’s U.S. Title Open Challenge On WWE SmackDown

Posted By: Ben Kerin on May 22, 2026 Tiffany Stratton Set For Women’s U.S. Title Open Challenge On WWE SmackDown

WWE has added several new segments and matches to tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown🎟️: https://t.co/BelDqyzZHq
📺: 8 ET/7 CT on @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/G3IkO9GYzB


If you reference any quotes from this piece, please attribute them to the original source, and kindly credit WrestlingNewsSource.com (h/t) for the transcription.

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AEW Adds Partner Indie Promotion’s Catalog To MyAEW Streaming Service

All Elite Wrestling’s streaming platform, MyAEW, is now expanding its catalog by adding independent promotions to its service. The first indie outlet to confirm its now part of MyAEW was 1FW (One Fall Wrestling). The promotion revealed the big announcement on X [formerly known as Twitter] on Friday.

Based out of Atlanta, 1FW is owned and operated by longtime AEW resident and its Vice President of Show and Creative Coordination’s, Q.T. Marshall. The promotion features up-and-coming wrestlers, as well as already established stars from AEW and its sister promotion, ROH. Every episode of 1FW’s weekly show (34, as of this report) will be featured starting today. In mid-July, 1FW will host an event that will feature AEW and ROH roster members such as Paul Wight, Billy Gunn, Harley Cameron, The Frat House, The Infantry, and Jay Lethal.

Launched this past March, AEW and Kiswe joined forces to create MyAEW as a state-of-the-art platform for international fans to access live and on-demand events, from weekly flagship programming to pay-per-views, behind-the-scenes moments, and exclusive digital content from AEW, ROH, and now, 1FW.

Speaking of streaming platforms, currently, AEW is suing TrillerTV and its parent company, Triller Group Inc., over late payments. The ballpark range of this lawsuit is just under $5 million. Late payments became an issue prior to 2025, according to reports by Dave Meltzer of the “Wrestling Observer Radio.”

Former WWE NXT Star Reportedly Set To Appear On Reality Series Survivor

The 50th season of “Survivor” just ended this past Wednesday where four-time player Aubry Bracco was crowned the winner and the recipient of the two million dollar prize. However, long-time host of “Survivor” Jeff Probst revealed during the finale on Wednesday that season 51 has already been shot, and it seems like professional wrestling will be represented on the islands of Fiji this upcoming fall.

Earlier this week, “Inside Survivor” published the rumored cast of “Survivor 51,” and Atlanta’s own Brady Booker is listed as a contestant on the show. For the past four years, the 26-year-old has competed in promotions such as All Elite Wrestling, Ring Of Honor and 1 Fall Wrestling as a freelancer. However, he first started his career with WWE in 2022 and wrestled for the company for nine months before getting released while recovering from an injury. Booker had the opportunity to wrestle on programs such as “WWE NXT” and “WWE Level Up” under the name Bodhi Hayward, but was reportedly let go for his lack of progress and behavioural issues. Today, Booker is the current 1FW Heavyweight Champion and has held the title for 301 days.

Booker is not the first professional wrestler to have competed on a season of “Survivor,” with AEW star Johnny TV, also known as John Morrison, having competed on the 37th edition of the show. In addition, the late Ashley Massaro was featured on “Survivor: China” in 2007 while she was still wrestling for WWE.

MJF Says ‘Of Course’ WWE Sources Leak Negative Stories About AEW

MJF has accused WWE of planting fake stories about AEW regarding their TV deal.

Recent reports stated that WWE was circulating stories claiming that AEW would not secure a new media deal, leading to suggestions that the promotion’s future could be in jeopardy without one. MJF, in his appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” rubbished those rumors, stating that we have to be mindful about which stories to believe.

“Nick Khan’s job is to do this [brush aside AEW] and to make everybody look at this [WWE], and it makes sense. It’s smart, but we also have to be smart about what sources we listen to,” he said. “So, I believe this was last week. There was something [that said] WWE sources are saying that AEW is struggling to get a TV deal. Come on, bro. Warner is over the moon with us. That would be like Coca-Cola sources are saying that Pepsi makes their liquids entirely of ass juice. It’s like, let’s look at the source and then judge on it.”

The AEW star believes that these rumors, reportedly planted by WWE, are a way for the TKO-owned promotion to dictate the media narrative.

“Yeah, of course [it was planted by WWE]. It’s a game of trying to control the media and trying to control the way people think because for the longest time, it was very easy, as I was saying earlier, [the perception was] AEW bad. Well, now people are a little disenfranchised with seeing their favorite wrestlers be asked to take a 50% cut, or they’re a little disenfranchised with the show as a whole, and they’re going, maybe I should give this a thing a look,” added MJF.

These rumors stem from Warner Bros. Discovery’s reported sale to Paramount, which some believe could put AEW’s TV deal in jeopardy, with its current deal reportedly set to expire in 2027.