Incident Overview
In a shocking incident at the KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy in Los Angeles, Raja Jackson, the son of former UFC champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, allegedly launched a brutal attack on professional wrestler Stuart Smith, known as Syko Stu. During what was meant to be a choreographed wrestling match, Raja stepped outside the bounds of performance, body-slamming Smith and proceeding to deliver over 20 punches to his head while he appeared unconscious.
Details of the Confrontation
The confrontation, which took place over the weekend, was captured on livestream and shared widely on social media. Eyewitnesses reported that other wrestlers intervened to separate Raja from Smith, who was injured in the assault before Jackson left the scene. In response, the Los Angeles Police Department has initiated an investigation into the event. A spokesperson did not provide further comments at this time.
Response from KnokX Pro Entertainment
KnokX Pro Entertainment & Academy publicly denounced the violence, issuing a statement on Facebook that expressed concern for Smith’s wellbeing and condemned Raja’s actions as an unacceptable deviation from the planned wrestling performance. The organization emphasized that in its 17 years of operation, they had never witnessed such a disturbing episode, and they apologized to their audience and supporters.
Background on the Individuals Involved
Stuart Smith, a 30-year-old U.S. military veteran, has utilized wrestling as a means to cope with post-traumatic stress disorder. As for Raja Jackson, 25, he is a mixed martial artist who recently lost his only professional fight earlier in 2023.
Quinton Jackson’s Statement
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, who held the light heavyweight title in the UFC from 2007 to 2008, shared on social media that Smith is currently stable and awake. He mentioned that the altercation escalated following an earlier incident where Smith unintentionally struck Raja during the day. Rampage stated,
“Raja was told he could get his ‘payback’ in the ring.”
He referenced the situation as a misguided attempt to blend performance with real-life emotions, expressing regret about the outcome and stressing that his son was not a professional wrestler, implying he was unprepared for the event’s physical demands.
Rampage Jackson’s Career
Although Rampage Jackson has had a career in both MMA and professional wrestling, he also crossed over into acting, with a notable role as B.A. Baracus in the 2010 film adaptation of The A-Team. He did not immediately respond to requests for further comment from The Associated Press regarding the incident.
