The wrestling world is reeling after a shocking incident involving Raja Jackson, son of UFC legend Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, and professional wrestler Stuart Smith, known as Syko Stu. The assault, which occurred during a KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy show in Los Angeles on August 23rd, has left Smith with severe injuries and sparked widespread outrage.
The Incident: From Scripted Interruption to Real Violence
Initially intended as a scripted interruption, the situation quickly escalated when Raja Jackson allegedly attacked Stuart Smith. Video footage shows Jackson picking up Smith, slamming him to the mat, and repeatedly punching him, even while Smith appeared motionless. The KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy condemned the act as a "selfish, irresponsible act of violence." The incident was live-streamed on Jackson's KICK account, which has since been banned by the platform for violating its community guidelines against excessive violence.
Syko Stu's Recovery: A Long Road Ahead
Following the assault, Stuart Smith was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. His brother, Andrew Smith, initially reported that Stuart was conscious and able to talk but faced a "difficult recovery ahead." Smith's fiancé, Contessa Patterson, later provided an update, stating that he has been released from the hospital but sustained a serious head injury, trauma to both the upper and lower jaws, a laceration to his upper lip, and a fracture to the maxilla bone, resulting in the loss of several teeth.
Community Support and Fundraising Efforts
In the wake of the assault, the wrestling community and fans have rallied to support Stuart Smith. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help cover his medical bills and recovery costs. The campaign has raised over $200,000, demonstrating the outpouring of support for the injured wrestler. Smith’s wife organized a fundraising page to help cover his medical costs and loss of income after the “unscripted assault.”
Legal Investigation Underway
The Los Angeles Police Department has confirmed that a police report has been filed and that an investigation is underway. As of August 26th, no arrests had been made. USA TODAY has reached out to Raja Jackson for comment but has not received a response.
Stuart Smith is a U.S. Army veteran who used wrestling as an outlet to deal with his PTSD.
Where is Raja Jackson now?
Since the incident, Raja Jackson has remained offline and silent. There has been no further update from the police regarding potential charges against him, other than vague comments that the situation is under investigation.