Ex-Wife and Man Arrested in Murder of Ex-WWE Wrestler Nikel

Two individuals, including the ex-wife of former WWE wrestler Kevin Nikel, have been arrested and charged in connection with his fatal shooting in Arkansas this past July. The U.S. Marshals Service took Michael Hogue and Amanda Penny into custody on November 17, 2025, in separate locations across the state. Hogue faces first-degree murder charges, while Penny, Nikel's former spouse, is accused of being an accomplice to first-degree murder. Both also face additional firearm possession charges.

Nikel, 41, who performed under the ring names Knuckles Madsen and Ivan Warsaw, was found with a gunshot wound to the abdomen on July 11, 2025, in the Beaver Shores area near Rogers. He had been transported to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries later that day. The incident occurred just three days after Nikel and Penny finalized their divorce on July 8, following a marriage that lasted more than a decade.

Prosecutor Josh Robinson provided details during a bond hearing on November 19, stating that the shooting stemmed from an argument involving Nikel, Hogue and Penny. According to Robinson, Hogue fired the weapon, but Nikel managed to wrest control of the gun before seeking help...