Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer
Please enter a legal issue and/or a location
Begin typing to search, use arrow keys to navigate, use enter to select

Find a Lawyer

More Options

Ex-WWE Champ Daniel Bryan Tackles Alleged Home Burglar

By Brett Snider, Esq. | Last updated on

Former WWE star Daniel Bryan tackled an alleged burglar at his Phoenix home on Thursday night, proving that TV smackdowns might not be fake after all.

Bryan, an ex-WWE World Heavyweight Champion whose real name is (confusingly) Bryan Danielson, told police that he saw two robbery suspects flee his home as he and his wife were returning. Perhaps leaning into his WWE skills, the ex-wrestler was able to chase down and subdue one suspect, Cesar Sosa, until police arrived, reports AZ Central.

Is it OK for homeowners like Danielson to subdue home invaders?

Wrestler Worried About His Dog

In press conference footage provided by Phoenix's KSAZ-TV, Daniel Bryan explained that when he and his wife returned home from the airport and saw a back door was open, their main concern was for their dog:

Bryan was optimistic to note that his neighbor had made a well-timed 911 call when he or she noticed suspicious activity about 10 minutes before the ex-wrestler and his wife arrived home.

Upon seeing the two accused burglars fleeing from his home, Bryan was able to subdue Sosa and detain him until the authorities arrived. According to AZ Central, Sosa had a felony warrant for his arrest for kidnapping and burglary and explained to officers that he and his accomplice had attempted to flee when the burglary was "interrupted."

Sosa's accomplice has not been apprehended as of Monday.

Should You Wrestle a Home Invader?

While chasing down and pinning one of the alleged home invaders worked out for Bryan, is it a good idea, legally speaking, to try to subdue a burglar?

Residential burglaries are typically felonies, so you may be able to perform a citizen's arrest on a suspect who you believe has broken into your home. For such a citizen's arrest, you'll need:

  • Probable cause that the suspect committed the burglary,
  • To detain the suspect with reasonable and minimum force, and
  • To call the police after the suspect is detained.

Unless there is a threat to you or your family's lives, you may not be legally justified in using lethal force to stop a burglar, which thankfully wasn't the case here. Practically, it may be wise to avoid physical confrontation with a home invader unless absolutely necessary; you don't want to put your life at stake.

One more takeaway: WWE wrestler Daniel Bryan isn't just an actor -- this wrestling was real.

Follow FindLaw for Consumers on Facebook and Twitter (@FindLawConsumer).

Related Resources:

Was this helpful?

You Don’t Have To Solve This on Your Own – Get a Lawyer’s Help

Meeting with a lawyer can help you understand your options and how to best protect your rights. Visit our attorney directory to find a lawyer near you who can help.

Or contact an attorney near you:
Copied to clipboard