Curtis Axel’s DWI case finally has a finish, and the former WWE star won’t be heading back to jail as long as he follows the rules. Joseph Hennig reached a plea agreement in Minnesota that saw him plead guilty to DWI and disorderly conduct while two other charges were tossed out.
According to Court records obtained by Ringside News, a plea agreement was submitted on August 24, bringing the case stemming from Hennig’s May 2026 arrest much closer to the finish line. The charges of refusing to submit to chemical testing and interfering with a peace officer were dismissed as part of the deal.
That is a much different outcome than what Hennig was staring at when the case first blew up. Ringside News previously detailed how the former Intercontinental Champion faced the possibility of up to 364 days in jail on the most serious charge before any plea agreement had been reached.
The entire situation started with a chaotic night at a McDonald’s in Anoka County, Minnesota. Hennig was arrested in May following an incident at the restaurant, and Ringside News previously obtained details from the criminal complaint surrounding the arrest.
Police records from the original case accused Hennig of showing signs of intoxication after officers responded to a property damage crash. The complaint also accused him of refusing commands from officers and later refusing chemical testing after he was taken into custody.
Now the legal picture looks a lot different. Hennig was handed a 90-day sentence, but 87 of those days were stayed. The remaining three days were credited as time already served, meaning Axel does not have to walk back into a jail cell under the current sentence.
There is still a pretty big catch hanging over him. Hennig will spend the next year on supervised probation, although that supervision could potentially become unsupervised after five months if things go smoothly.
He also has to stay out of trouble. The probation terms require Hennig to remain law-abiding and show good behavior, with no new alcohol or drug-related offenses and no assaultive, violent, disorderly or threatening conduct.
If he handles all of that, those remaining 87 days stay exactly where they are — suspended. Hennig has already completed a required comprehensive assessment and attended a Mothers Against Drunk Driving Impact Panel. He was also ordered to pay a $50 fine within 90 days.
The case began with Hennig facing several charges following his arrest. Ringside News first revealed that the former WWE star had been arrested on multiple counts tied to the incident, bringing Axel back into the headlines after years of largely staying away from the wrestling spotlight.
The third-generation wrestler is the son of WWE Hall of Famer Curt “Mr. Perfect” Hennig and the grandson of Larry “The Axe” Hennig. Axel spent more than a decade with WWE, winning the Intercontinental Championship and Tag Team Championship before the company released him in 2020.
Now, instead of facing the possibility of a lengthy stay behind bars, Axel is walking away from the case with three days already credited, two charges dismissed and the rest of his jail sentence hanging over him only if he violates the terms of his probation. It’s a much cleaner ending than this case looked like it might have when that McDonald’s arrest first put him back in the headlines.
What do you think about the plea deal Curtis Axel received, and do you think the punishment fits how serious the original case looked? Let us know your thoughts and feedback in the comments.
