Amanda Penny, the ex-wife of the former WWE developmental wrestler, was released from jail after prosecutors dropped the 1st Degree Murder charge against her. Penny, who was previously accused of being part of the deadly July 2025 confrontation that left Nikel dead, is now off the hook for murder. But shes not in the clear. Shes still facing serious charges: Hindering apprehension and Possession of a firearmthe latter carrying up to 20 years in prison, and potentially even more if it gets bumped up to a Class B felony due to prior violent offenses or if its tied to another crime. Despite the downgrade, Penny didnt get off with a slap on the wrist. Shes been ordered to complete 810 months at the Victory Mission Bible Training Center in Arkansas. That means full participationall aspectsincluding mandatory counseling. She also has a strict no-contact order in place, meaning shes barred from contacting Nikels family, which likely includes her own son. Her next court date is locked in for July 28 via Zoom. Meanwhile, Michael Hogue, the man accused of pulling the trigger, is still rotting in a Benton County jail. Hogue is facing 1st Degree Murder and Possession of Firearm by Certain Personsand because his parole from a previous violent conviction was yanked, even a $750K bond wont get him out. Hogue had just been released a month before the shooting. Nikelknown to fans as Knuckles Madsen and earlier as Ivan Warsawwas gunned down on July 11, 2025, after being shot in the abdomen in Rogers, Arkansas. He was rushed to the hospital, but didnt make it. He was 41. His mother, Susan Kinderman, told local media she believes her son may have been lured into a deadly setup: Kinderman also opened up about Nikel and Pennys long history: Nikel signed with WWE in 2012, appearing at NXT live events before leaving the company in 2013. He continued wrestling across the South through 2024, sharing the ring with legends like Jerry Lawler. Kinderman just wants answers. Pennys release throws a wrench into what seemed like a clear-cut murder case. Now, all eyes turn to Michael Hogueand whether the full truth will ever come out.Do you think Amanda Pennys release was the right callor should she still be facing the murder charge? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below. G Add as a preferred source on Google
