The world of wrestling is full of controversial facts, shocking events and extraordinary people. And those people frequently get caught violating the law and leave no other option to the cops except to lock them up and throw away the keys. Here are some wrestlers’ arrest stories that are either on the wrong side of the law.
1. Matt Morgan
On January 16, 2006, Matt Morgan was stuck in traffic; he had a bad alcoholic drink and was not in his senses. He came out of his car in an aggressive mood; he pulled out along the side of the woman who was next to his car. He cut him off and allegedly shouted: “You better be glad I’m not a police officer.” and then drove straight away to head off the gym.
The woman took down his license plate number; she immediately called the police and declared that Matt Morgan had posed to be a police officer. The police traced him driving to the gym; they pulled him over and arrested him for imitating a police officer and harming a woman for no reason… One gimmick that Matt couldn’t get over!
2. Disco Inferno
This story is about gambling. Glenn Gilberti AKA Disco Inferno constructed a casino in the basement of Dan Tyre’s home in Atalanta. It was full of dashing waitresses and was holding high stake games. The minimum bet of the single-game was $10,000. We’ve checked with casino experts from Exycasinos and they confirmed it’s really high even comparing to the big casino houses… Who knew Disco could run something like this?
The police had been staking out the home about half a year before deciding to go in for custody. Disco inferno with a group of 26 gamblers was arrested due to gambling and drug possession; cocaine and ecstasy were all seized in the raid. Disco was allowed to go free after posting a $10,000 bond.
3. Vince McMahon
The famous steroid charge changed the WWF forever. Although never arrested, Vince found himself indicted by the federal government. Zahorian had been supplying WWF wrestlers, including Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior and Roddy Piper, steroids illegally, in return for financial gain and access to the wrestlers he was a personal fan of.
Zahorian would be sentenced to three years in federal prison for his crimes. After the conclusion of their prosecution on Zahorian, the Government made the move to indict Vince McMahon for operating a steroid distribution ring.
On November 18th, 1993, they charged Vince McMahon with possession of steroids and conspiracy to distribute steroids and looked to lock him away for a sentence of 11 years, fine him $2 million while also seizing the Titan Towers, valued at $9 million. It looked like Vince McMahon and the WWF was sunk when Kevin Walcholz, who used to wrestle for the promotion as “Nailz”, testified that Vince had encouraged him to use steroids. However, the prosecution’s case fell apart when their star witness Terry Bollea (Hulk Hogan) took to the stand to testify against Vince McMahon. He instead exonerated him by declaring that he had taken steroids, but Vince McMahon had never told him or anyone else to do it or supplied them with steroids. Vince was found not guilty of all charges and was free to run the WWF however he saw fit.
4. Tazz… Maybe?
Tazz’s arrest was so faded between the line of rumor and reality, that I will provide the old newspaper article from the actual Beaver County Times on September 15th, 1998, here.
Apparently, Tazz, (Peter Senerchia) went to the Moon Beach Tanning Salon, to get a tan. While there, he allegedly asked a 15-year-old girl who was working at the salon to lift her shirt and show him her breasts. He then exposed his private parts to the girl. When police arrested Taz, he gave his name as Taz Stone. This is why there is confusion so many years later as to whether or not it was really Tazz.
5. Dick Slater
Dick Slater’s real name was Richard Van Slater. He was a popular wrestler in Georgia and won Georgia Heavyweight Championship four times. During his match, he once blew out two vertebrae on their back…
On December 27th, 2003, Slater went to the house of ex-girlfriend Theresa Halbert. The couple had just broken up, and Halbert was allowing Slater to come to her house to gather his belongings there. While there, Slater suddenly attacked his ex with a punch to the back of her head. He then took a knife in his possession and stabbed her three times in her back, arm and leg. He was arrested and charged with attempted murder.
On June 10th, 2004, he was convicted for the crime and sentenced to one-year house arrest, two years probation, ordered to stay away from Halbert and forced to pay her $18,000 in restitution. Dick Slater was arrested again on January 18th, 2007, for harassing Theresa Halbert again. He had made phone calls and left an envelope full of bank statements at her front door… He again blamed it on drugs and said he didn’t remember doing anything.