What Happened to Joseph Curtis Hennig (Curtis Axel)?

Joseph Curtis Hennig, born October 1, 1979, is a third-generation professional wrestler, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Larry 'The Axe' Hennig and his father, WWE Hall of Famer 'Mr. Perfect' Curt Hennig. He began his WWE career in 2007, initially wrestling under his real name in developmental territories before being introduced to a wider audience as Michael McGillicutty on NXT Season 2 in 2010. His main roster debut saw him join the formidable Nexus faction, where he achieved his first major championship, the WWE Tag Team Championship, with David Otunga in 2011.

In 2013, Hennig underwent a significant repackaging, adopting the ring name Curtis Axel, a tribute to his father and grandfather, and was managed by the renowned Paul Heyman. This period marked a career high, as he captured the WWE Intercontinental Championship, becoming part of the exclusive father-son duo to hold the title. Following his Intercontinental Championship reign, Axel was involved in various alliances, including RybAxel with Ryback, the comedic 'AxelMania' gimmick, and later as a member of The Social Outcasts. In 2017, he joined The Miztourage alongside Bo Dallas, which eventually evolved into 'The B-Team.' As part of The B-Team, Axel and Dallas won the Raw Tag Team Championship in 2018.

Axel's initial tenure with WWE concluded on April 30, 2020, when he was released from his contract as part of widespread budget cuts stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. After his release, he largely stepped away from in-ring competition, wrestling only one known independent match in 2025. However, he made a brief return to WWE in April 2022, initially for a tryout, and was officially hired as a producer in June 2022. This backstage role was short-lived, as he departed the company again after approximately three months. Axel later revealed that his departure coincided with the hush money allegations against Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis, stating that he was informed WWE couldn't afford to keep him on in his part-time role.

The most recent development in Joseph Hennig's life occurred on May 17, 2026, when he was arrested in Anoka County, Minnesota. He faced multiple charges, including Third-Degree Driving While Impaired, refusal to submit to a chemical test, obstructing the legal process, possessing an open bottle of alcohol in his vehicle, and failing to stop after an accident involving property damage. Hennig was released from jail two days later, on May 19, 2026. As of May 28, 2026, he has not made any public statement regarding the arrest.