WWE Star Billy Jack Haynes’ Bail Hearing Delayed On Charges Of Killing His Wife After Stand Off With Police

Former WWE Wrestlemania star Billy Jack Haynes’ bail hearing on charges of killing his wife, Janette Becraft, 85, was delayed after his attorneys asked for more time. The new hearing is set for May 13. 

On Feb. 8, Haynes, 70, had a two-hour standoff with law enforcement who were trying to arrest him. After two hours, Haynes finally gave in and exited the home. It was then that the police discovered Becraft dead inside their house. He was taken into custody by Oregon police, but a motive has not been identified.

Becraft was also the mother of another professional wrestler who performed using the name Tod Ruhl, but his real name was Tod Becraft. 

Ruhl and Haynes were good friends who met wrestling when they were nine. After Ruhl’s father died, his mother married Haynes. Ruhl died in 2021.

Kim Becraft Finlay posted an endearing message about her mother on Facebook: “You are now flying with the Angels. They are lucky to have such a beautiful soul. Love you, Mom.”

Relatives of Becraft were not surprised about the ordeal and expressed their concern that Haynes had abused her abuser. 

Haynes gained prominence in the professional wrestling world in the 1980s and competed in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), which later became World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). After a career spanning two years, Haynes retired from wrestling in 1996. He faced off against notable opponents such as Hercules Hernandez, Ric Flair and Randy “Macho Man” Savage.

Haynes was among a group of former professional wrestlers who filed a lawsuit against the WWE, which alleged “egregious mistreatment” and claimed that the organization failed to adequately protect its athletes from head injuries that result in severe brain damage. The class-action lawsuit was ultimately dismissed in 2019.