AJ Ferrari, a former college wrestler and member of WWE’s inaugural NIL class, has been charged with strangling a pregnant woman and falsely imprisoning her during an argument, according to a police affidavit.
Ferrari was among the athletes named to WWE’s inaugural NIL (Next in Line) class in 2021, a program designed to identify collegiate prospects for potential future signings.
Medical records confirmed the woman was treated for injuries consistent with strangulation, marking Ferrari’s most serious legal trouble since a 2022 sexual battery case.
Ferrari faces charges of assault by strangulation or suffocation on a pregnant woman, third-degree domestic assault, and first-degree false imprisonment.
Police issued a warrant for his arrest this past Thursday, and the unnamed woman filed a restraining order against him, per NTV News.
Details Of The Alleged Assault
The affidavit states that on May 8, Lincoln, Nebraska police responded to Ferrari’s apartment after the woman’s mother called seeking help. The woman said that the previous night, during an argument, she hid inside a closet while trying to reach her mother.
She told police that Ferrari took her phone, lay on top of her, and dragged her off the bed before strangling her on the floor. She was transported to Bryan Medical Center and flew to California immediately after leaving the hospital.
Medical records confirmed she was treated for abrasions and bruises on her neck. It has been noted that it was deemed consistent with strangulation.
The charges come just days after Ferrari was arrested in a separate case, when he was pursued in a high-speed chase and booked on suspicion of flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, and disturbing the peace. He was released after posting a $2,000 bond.
Ferrari’s WWE And Legal History
Ferrari wrestled at Oklahoma State and Cal State Bakersfield before he was transferred to the University of Nebraska last year. In 2022, he was arrested and charged with felony sexual battery, though the charges were later dropped after the district attorney cited “vicious attacks” and “harassment” directed at the plaintiff online. Ferrari maintained his innocence throughout.
That case also led to him being dismissed from his college wrestling program, and he was set to stand trial over the sexual battery charges before they were dropped.