A court hearing in Warren County, Tennessee, for the criminal case against former WWF and Memphis Wrestling star Mike “Duke” Droese, which was scheduled for this morning, has been postponed. The hearing, listed on the docket as “plea or trial selection,” has been rescheduled for January 14, 2026.
There is no official word at this time as to why the hearing was postponed. This hearing is set to determine the next steps in the case; if Droese and the prosecution do not reach a plea agreement, his criminal trial will be scheduled at the January hearing.
Droese, whose legal name is Michael Droese, was indicted during the May 2025 Session of the Warren County Grand Jury. He is facing one count of Attempted Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, which is classified as a Class D Felony in Tennessee.
Following the indictment, Droese’s bail was set at $10,000. He peacefully submitted himself to the Warren County Sheriff’s Department, was booked on the charge, and was released immediately after making bond.
Who is Mike ‘Duke’ Droese?
To wrestling fans of the 1990s, Michael Droese is known as Duke “The Dumpster” Droese. He was a prominent character during the WWF’s “New Generation” era, which was known for its highly stylized, occupational gimmicks.
Droese’s gimmick was literally that of a wrestling garbage man. Billed from “Mount Trashmore, Florida,” he would come to the ring wearing a garbage collector’s vest and carrying a large metal trash can, which he would sometimes use on his opponents. His finishing move was called the “Trash Compactor,” a tilt-a-whirl powerslam.
He joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1994 and had notable feuds with Jerry “The King” Lawler and a young Hunter Hearst Helmsley (Triple H). He famously defeated Helmsley by disqualification at the 1996 Royal Rumble, which, due to the match stipulation, forced Helmsley to enter the Rumble match at number one while Droese entered at number 30.
Droese left the WWF in 1996 and wrestled regularly until 2001. He has since made occasional appearances, including a spot in the “Gimmick Battle Royal” at WrestleMania X-Seven in 2001 and, more recently, at the MLW Battle Riot event in Philadelphia in 2023.
Details of the Criminal Charge
The charge against Droese stems from an investigation that began after a tip from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In a press release issued in May 2025, Chris Stanford, District Attorney General for the 31st Judicial District, provided a timeline of the allegations.
According to the release, “On April 21, 2024, Michael Droese used his Coinbase account to attempt to purchase child sexual assault material (child pornography) from the Dark Web. The transaction was flagged and terminated prior to the purchase being completed.”
The FBI initially received the tip from Coinbase and forwarded the information to the Warren County Sheriff’s Department on March 19, 2025. This was the first time any local or state law enforcement was aware of the alleged conduct. On March 24, 2025, the DA’s office requested assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which led to the indictment.
Explanation of the Charge
DA Stanford’s press release also clarified the specific charge. “Sexual Exploitation of a Minor is the name of Tennessee’s law prohibiting child sexual assault material,” the release stated. “This charge became aggravated because Mr. Droese intended to purchase the child sexual assault material. Purchasing child sexual assault material is an aggravated crime because the money used… is what continues to make child sexual assault material profitable.”
Because Droese was “unsuccessful in securing” the material, the charge became a Criminal Attempt. The single count of Attempted Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor carries a possible sentence of two to four years in prison.
At the time of his indictment, Droese was employed as the new DUI Coordinator for the 31st Judicial District Adult Recovery Court Program, commonly known as “Drug Court.” The DA’s office noted that Droese “was never given a job duty that mandated any contact with children” and that all program participants are adults. C. Brad Price, Director of the program, confirmed that Droese was “terminated from his employment effective immediately” upon learning of the indictment.
This is not Droese’s first encounter with law enforcement. In 2013, while working as a teacher, Droese was indicted on three counts of delivery of a controlled substance for selling oxycodone and buprenorphine to an undercover informant. He resigned from his teaching position and was sentenced to serve 30 days of a three-year sentence.
