You’ve probably seen the grainy clips by now. A shirtless man darting across a dark parking lot, pursued by a group of guys who look like they just finished eighteen holes and a few too many transfusion cocktails. It’s chaotic. It’s messy. And honestly, it’s one of the weirdest stories to hit the hockey world in years.
When the Paul Bissonnette fight TMZ footage first dropped, the internet went into a predictable tailspin. People were calling him a hero. Others said he was looking for trouble. But the reality of what happened at Houston’s restaurant in Scottsdale on November 24, 2024, is way more intense than a thirty-second social media clip suggests. This wasn't just a "bar scrap." It was a six-on-one assault that started because a former NHL enforcer couldn't stand by and watch a manager get bullied.
The Houston’s Incident: Why Things Went South
BizNasty isn't exactly a quiet guy. We know him from Spittin’ Chiclets and his role on NHL on TNT. He’s loud, he’s funny, and he’s usually the life of the party. But on that Sunday night around 7:30 p.m., he was just a regular at one of his favorite local spots.
The trouble didn't start with him. It started with a group of men—later identified by police and media outlets like TMZ as the "Scottsdale Six"—who were reportedly getting rowdy over the restaurant’s seating and alcohol policy. Specifically, they were annoyed they couldn't get a drink without being seated.
According to Bissonnette’s own account on his podcast, he watched the situation escalate for about fifteen seconds. One of the men allegedly got physical, putting hands on the assistant manager.
"I said, 'Listen guy, if you keep harassing and assaulting the staff, we're going to go outside and have some problems,'" Bissonnette recounted.
The minute those words left his mouth? All hell broke loose.
Breaking Down the Paul Bissonnette Fight TMZ Footage
The footage released by the Scottsdale Police Department in December 2024 tells a pretty harrowing story. You see the initial scuffle inside the restaurant where Bissonnette’s shirt gets ripped off. He’s an ex-pro athlete, so he’s got the size, but numbers are numbers.
When the fight spilled out into the parking lot near a CVS, things got dangerous.
The timeline of the brawl:
- The Interior Scuffle: Bissonnette tries to intervene; he's immediately swarmed by four men.
- The Retreat: Biz moves toward the parking lot to avoid getting cornered inside the narrow bar area.
- The CVS Stand: In the parking lot, the group catches up. Bissonnette is knocked to the ground.
- The "Boot Fs":* This is the part that concerned everyone. While on the ground, Bissonnette took three kicks—one to the neck and two to the head.
- The Escape: He manages to scramble up, lose his shoes, and bolt into the CVS for safety.
Watching the video, you realize how lucky he was. If he hadn't possessed the "enforcer" instinct to protect his head and get back to his feet quickly, we might be talking about a much more tragic outcome.
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Who Were the Scottsdale Six?
TMZ and local Phoenix outlets didn't take long to name names. The men arrested were Danny Bradley, John G. Carroll, William J. Carroll, Sean Daley, Edward Jennings, and Henry Mesker.
The mugshots were a sight to behold. A few of the suspects looked considerably worse for wear, which isn't surprising when you consider they were trading blows with a guy who made a living fighting 230-pound monsters on ice. Sean Daley faced the steepest consequences, booked on multiple charges including two felonies.
Interestingly, reports surfaced later suggesting some of these individuals might have been involved in a similar altercation at the Raven Golf Club earlier that same day. It seems Bissonnette didn't just stumble into a random argument; he walked into a group that was already on a tear through Scottsdale.
Why This Story Stuck
Most "celebrity" fights are embarrassing. This one felt different. Bissonnette’s popularity actually spiked because he did what most people wish they had the guts to do. He stood up for service workers.
Think about it. We’ve all seen that one person in a restaurant being a complete jerk to the staff. Usually, everyone just looks at their phones and waits for it to end. Biz stepped in. He admitted later he might have "bit off more than he could chew" by taking on six or seven guys at once, but he maintained he wouldn't change a thing.
There’s also the "hockey factor." Bissonnette played over 200 games in the NHL. He was never the guy scoring forty goals; he was the guy protecting the guys who did. That muscle memory doesn't just go away. Even at 39 years old, his instinct was to be the shield.
The Legal and Professional Aftermath
Despite the "boot f***s" to the head, Biz was back on the TNT set just days later. He had some bruising, sure, but his pride was mostly intact.
For the attackers, the legal road was much rockier. By early 2025, the court proceedings were well underway. The Scottsdale Police used the city's extensive camera network to track the suspects after they fled the CVS parking lot. One was caught at a nearby hotel; others were rounded up shortly after.
The incident sparked a wider conversation about the safety of hospitality workers in high-end areas like Scottsdale, where "weekend warriors" sometimes feel entitled to act out.
Actionable Takeaways from the Incident
While you probably shouldn't go out and fight six people tonight, there are real lessons here:
- De-escalation First: Bissonnette tried to speak first, but as he learned, some groups are "seeing red" and beyond logic. If you're going to intervene, be prepared for a physical response.
- Situational Awareness: Biz knew the layout of the restaurant. He purposefully moved the fight outside to avoid being trapped in a corner. If you ever find yourself in a confrontation, space is your best friend.
- Support the Staff: You don't have to throw a punch to help. Often, just standing next to a harassed employee or calling the police immediately can change the dynamic of a situation.
The Paul Bissonnette fight TMZ saga is a rare case where the "viral" story actually matched the reality of the situation. It wasn't a PR stunt. It was just an old-school hockey player refusing to let people get bullied in his neighborhood. He took the hits, he gave a few back, and he ended up with a story that will be told on Spittin’ Chiclets for the next decade.
Keep an eye on the court summaries if you're interested in the final sentencing for the "Scottsdale Six." Most of the misdemeanor charges were resolved by mid-2025, but the felony cases involving the more serious assaults had a longer tail in the Maricopa County system.