Wrestling with Sin: 591

Brian Damage

This is the 591st installment of the ‘Wrestling with Sin‘ series. A group of stories that delves into the darker, underbelly of pro wrestling. Many of the stories involve such subjects as sex, drugs, greed and in some cases even murder! As with every single story in the Sin series, I do not condone or condemn the alleged participants. We simply retell their stories by researching interviews, newspapers, magazines and various other sources of media.

School Daze

‘Gentleman’ Chris Adams recalled the drug issues in World Class during their heyday. Adams remembered one time wrestling at a high school gym and a few of the boys decided to take an assortment of drugs and get high right there in the school. Adams said Kevin Von Erich got high and started stealing the football team’s uniforms and equipment, while climbing up the walls using the pipes attached to the walls.

Adams also said he remembered leaving the school after the show and saw a bunch of needles on the ground. Adams quickly grabbed the drug paraphernalia and threw them out before school officials witnessed them. Avoiding potential disaster for the promotion.

Hostile Hotel

John Arnold Smithen was a boxer and professional wrestler, who used the name ‘Jack Romero’ when competing as a wrestler. In January of 1938, Smithen held a get together with several friends at his hotel room. According to reports, all were drinking heavily at the party. As the evening progressed, an Native American named Peter Beauprey wanted to leave, but the female that escorted him refused to depart. An argument ensued and Beauprey threatened to return to the hotel with a gun.

Once Beauprey left, Smithen informed the downstairs clerk to be on the lookout for Beauprey if he returned and call up to his room if Beauprey is spotted. About an hour later, Beauprey did in fact return and the hotel desk clerk called up to warn Smithen and the others from his party. Smithen decided to hide in a broom closet and when Beauprey reached his room, Smithen jumped out of the closet punching Beauprey to the ground.

That is when Beauprey pulled out his revolver and fired his weapon three times. Smithen was hit twice in the thigh and once in the abdomen. Beauprey was arrested at the scene, but insisted he fired his gun in self defense. Smithen was hospitalized and listed in fair condition. Beauprey was charged with Assault with a deadly weapon, but if Smithen died from his wounds, the charges would be upgraded to murder in the first degree.

Smithen eventually succumbed to his wounds and Beauprey was charged with murder. He was eventually sentenced to life in prison, but three years into his sentence, a judge decided to reduce his life sentence to 25 years. John Arnold Smithen was just 28 years old at the time of his death. 

Love in an Elevator

An incident occurred on April 23rd of 2026, when WWE wrestler Ludwig Kaiser (El Grande Americano) was accused of assaulting a man named Robert Reap. According to police reports, Kaiser and his girlfriend and fellow WWE employee  Andrea Bazarte entered an elevator with Robert Reap inside. Reap stated that the couple were reportedly uncontrollably intimate with each other. Once Reap exited the elevator, he said he told the couple to have better manners and that is when Kaiser allegedly struck Reap.

Reap called the police and after interviewing him. The police said there were visible marks on his head. They then viewed the building’s security cameras and witnessed Kaiser hitting Reap from out of the elevator. A warrant for Kaiser’s arrest was issued, but Kaiser turned himself in. It was reported that Walter Hahn aka Gunther posted the $1,000 to get Kaiser released from custody.

There is another side of this story in which after Reap got out of the elevator, he allegedly threatened the couple with “calling ICE” and having Bazarte arrested and taken away. It was that comment that led to Kaiser assaulting Reap. That story, however, has been said to be false and untrue by some. Kaiser and his attorney are attempting to work out a plea deal before the case goes to trial.

Killing the Town

In July of 1875, a married woman from Nevada named Harriet James was found dead in her home by her brother. She had committed suicide by taking strychnine poison. A suicide note was discovered in the home next to her body. In the note, Mrs. James blamed her husband for her death stating that she was tired of her husband constantly leaving her to attend wrestling matches at a local circus. Her husband was a professional wrestler and according to Mrs. James’ brother, she was mortified about his profession. It was the one sticking point in their otherwise “happy marriage.”

You can read all previous ‘Wrestling with Sin’ pieces here.