Arrests Made Over Alleged Murder Of Former WWE Developmental Talent

Two arrests have been made over the death of Kevin Nikel, who wrestled as Knuckles Madsen during his run in WWE and as Ivan Warsaw outside of the company.

The US Marshals Service has announced that Michael Hogue and Amanda Penny were arrested on Monday, November 17. Hogue has been charged with first-degree murder and Penny has been charged with accomplice to murder in the first degree, with both receiving additional charges for possession of a firearm by certain persons.

Hogue and Penny were arrested over the July 11 shooting of Kevin Nikel in Rogers, Arkansas, with Nikel passing away following a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Nikel's mother, Susan Kinderman, noted to 5News in Arkansas that Kevin Nikel and Amanda Penny had been high school sweethearts and were married for 10 years, but their divorce had been finalised just days before Nikel was shot.

Kinderman added that Penny and Michael Hogue were in a relationship, and she was told by police that an argument led to the shooting.

"I was told by the detectives that there was some kind of altercation. Shots were fired and Kevin was killed. That's all we really know," Kinderman said.

According to prosecutor Josh Robinson, Nikel told a deputy before he succumbed to his wounds that Hogue had shot him and he had managed to disarm Hogue. At a bond hearing, Hogue, who admitted to being a member of a white supremacist gang, claimed that Nikel approached him with a police baton-type weapon.

Hogue's bond was set at $750,000, while Penny received a $500,000 bond. Their next court date is scheduled for January 5, 2026.

Kevin Nikel was a part of WWE from 2012 until 2013, performing as Knuckles Madsen in OVW and NXT, primarily at live events. Nikel returned to pro wrestling in 2021 and performed on the indies for the likes of Championship Wrestling from Memphis and Texas Style Wrestling until his passing.