The Disturbing Incident Involving Raja Jackson: A Case of Violence and Questionable Defense
On August 23, 2025, a shocking incident unfolded at a KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy event in Los Angeles, California, when Raja Jackson, the 25-year-old son of former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, brutally attacked professional wrestler Stuart Smith, known as Syko Stu. What was intended to be a scripted wrestling event turned into a violent assault, resulting in Smith’s hospitalization and sparking a Los Angeles Police Department investigation into what some have called attempted murder. The incident, livestreamed on the platform Kick, has raised serious questions about Raja Jackson’s actions, his emotional and mental maturity, and the troubling defense offered by his father, Rampage Jackson.
The incident began earlier in the evening when Smith, a 44-year-old U.S. Army veteran who uses wrestling as an outlet to cope with PTSD, reportedly hit Raja Jackson on the side of the head with a prop drink can as part of a promotional stunt. According to video evidence, Smith believed Raja was a wrestler familiar with the scripted nature of such acts and later apologized, with Raja seemingly accepting the apology. The two shook hands, and it was agreed that Raja would participate in a scripted “spot” during Smith’s match, a common wrestling trope where an outsider interrupts for dramatic effect. However, what followed was far from scripted.
During Smith’s match, Raja Jackson entered the ring, hoisted Smith above his head, and slammed him onto the mat in a move resembling an Alabama Slam, which, if executed improperly, can cause severe injury.
The slam appeared to knock Smith unconscious, with his head and neck snapping back upon impact. Instead of stopping, Raja mounted the motionless Smith and delivered over 20 punches to his face and head, continuing even as Smith lay defenseless.
Other wrestlers, including one named Douglas Malo, rushed to intervene, with Malo credited for pulling Raja off and potentially saving Smith’s life. Smith was left bloodied, with reported injuries including broken facial bones and lost teeth, and was rushed to a hospital in critical but stable condition. By the time police arrived, Raja had fled the scene.
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the incident as a possible attempted murder, with officers filing a felony battery report. Legal experts have weighed in, noting that while consent to physical contact is inherent in sports like wrestling, Raja’s actions far exceeded any reasonable boundaries. Attorney Eric Faddis stated, “The alleged assailant should have known this isn’t part of the match. This can’t be consented to.”
The premeditated nature of the attack, coupled with Raja’s comments during his livestream—where he expressed intent to “hit him as many times as I can” after feeling disrespected—has led some to argue that the incident constitutes attempted murder, especially given the defenseless state of Smith during the assault.
Raja Jackson’s response, captured on his livestream, was chilling. After being informed that Smith was “flatline” in the ring, Raja casually replied, “My bad,” showing little remorse. His behavior suggests a lack of emotional and mental maturity, as he had multiple opportunities to de-escalate the situation.
When Smith hit him with the prop can, Raja could have reported the incident to authorities if he felt genuinely assaulted, or he could have simply left the event to avoid further conflict. Instead, he chose to escalate the situation, plotting his retaliation and executing it in a public, violent manner. His actions reflect an inability to manage emotions or consider consequences, traits that are particularly concerning given his background as a professional MMA fighter trained in delivering powerful strikes.
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s response to the incident has drawn significant criticism for its emotional and seemingly illogical defense of his son. In a statement posted on X on August 24, 2025, Rampage claimed that Smith was “awake and stable” and attempted to contextualize Raja’s actions by noting that he had been hit in the head by Smith earlier, suggesting Raja was told he could get “payback” in the ring as part of the show.
Rampage wrote, “It was bad judgement, and a work that went wrong. Raja is an MMA fighter not a pro wrestler and had no business involved in an event like this.” He further noted that Raja had suffered a concussion days prior, implying that this may have impaired his judgment. However, this defense has been widely criticized as inadequate and misleading. Community notes on X clarified that Smith had apologized hours before the match, and Raja’s livestream showed him being egged on by his chat and others to attack Smith, undermining the claim that the assault was a spontaneous reaction.
Rampage’s defense raises troubling questions about accountability. By framing the incident as a misunderstanding and emphasizing Raja’s concussion, he appears to deflect responsibility from his son’s deliberate actions. In a later statement on August 27, Rampage doubled down, saying, “Say what you want about me, twist my words all you want, hopefully none of your kids fuck up bad enough to have people judge your parenting.”
While expressing concern for Smith’s recovery, Rampage’s focus on defending Raja—without fully condemning the severity of the attack—has been seen as an attempt to downplay a violent act that left a man hospitalized. Furthermore, Rampage’s claim that Raja “hasn’t been the same” since his mother’s murder (details of which remain undisclosed) was explicitly stated to be unrelated to the incident, weakening its relevance as a mitigating factor.
Had Raja Jackson demonstrated emotional and mental maturity, the outcome could have been drastically different. Instead of allowing feelings of disrespect to fester, he could have sought legal recourse or removed himself from the environment. His decision to exact revenge in such an extreme manner, especially after accepting Smith’s apology, points to a dangerous impulsivity and lack of self-control.
The incident has sparked outrage, with wrestling fans and commentators, including veteran journalist Dave Meltzer, calling it one of the worst in-ring assaults ever witnessed. A fundraising page has been established to support Smith’s recovery, which his brother described as “difficult” despite Smith regaining consciousness.