Judge rules Cain Velasquez can partake in upcoming Arizona pro wrestling event
Out on bail, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez is once again an active professional athlete.
On Tuesday, a Santa Clara County (Calif.) judge ruled that Velasquez is allowed to travel to Tempe, Ariz., by plane to partake in an upcoming pro wrestling event for promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide.
Velasquez is out on $1 million bail on charges including attempted murder. His house confinement restriction will be temporarily waved.
After hearing from defense attorney Ed Sousa and district attorney representative Leigh Frazier on Monday and Tuesday, Judge Arthur Bocanegra ruled that Velasquez will be allowed to partake in the event without GPS monitoring – despite the district attorney’s office’s objection.
He will leave Dec. 1 and return Dec. 4. As a result of his monitoring device being removed for the duration of his trip, Judge Bocanegra ruled that Velasquez must hire a police officer for work detail and absorb the cost.
According to the wrestling promotion’s website, the event takes place at Mullett Arena in Tempe, where Velasquez attended Arizona State University and wrestled for the college.
Velasquez, 40, currently faces seven charges, including attempted murder, after he allegedly chased and shot at Harry Goularte, a man accused of molestation of Velasquez’s then 4-year-old son.
Goularte also is out on bail. He faces one felony charge of lewd acts with a child. In October, Goularte was permitted by the court to return to work as a construction worker. He also has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting a pre-trial hearing in January.
Velasquez competed for Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide following the conclusion of his MMA career in 2019. It preceded a stint in WWE, which featured a feud with former UFC opponent Brock Lesnar. He departed WWE in 2020. In late 2021, Velasquez returned to Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide.