Content warning: The following post contains events that are extremely disturbing.
Raja Jackson, the son of former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, appeared to brutally assault a professional wrestler at an independent wrestling event in California on Saturday.
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The disturbing scene was captured live on streaming platform Kick. In the video, Jackson can be seen entering the ring at a Knokx Pro Wrestling event, hoisting independent wrestler Stuart Smith — aka Syko Stu — above his head, then slamming him onto the mat hard. Jackson then mounts the already seemingly unconscious wrestler and unloads more than 20 unanswered punches to his head before being forcibly ripped away by a swarm of other wrestlers.
Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp reported Saturday night that the spot between Jackson and Smith was planned however the onslaught of seemingly legitimate punches and the damage Smith suffered was not expected. Smith was reportedly “rushed to the hospital with serious injuries” following the incident.
The incident appeared to stem from an exchange between Jackson and Stu earlier in the day, which can be watched here, along with Jackson’s disturbing in-ring attack.
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Jackson, 25, has experience as a professional MMA fighter. The son of MMA royalty, Jackson compiled a 4-0 record on the sport’s amateur scene before turning pro in 2023 and losing his professional lightweight debut in a unanimous decision against Steve Collins at United Fight League 3.
Jackson’s father, former UFC champ Quinton Jackson, posted a statement late Saturday night claiming that Smith was now “awake and stable,” although Smith’s present health status has yet to be confirmed. The UFC legend said his son’s attack was “a work that went wrong” — wrestling parlance for a staged fight that unexpectedly became real — and that Raja “had no business involved in an event like this.”
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“I don’t condone my son’s actions AT ALL!” the elder Jackson wrote. “He suffered a concussion from sparring only days ago and had no business doing anything remotely close to physical contact. As a father, I’m deeply concerned with his health AND the well being of Mr. Smith.”
I want to clear up the misinformation about my son Raja. I’ve been confirmed that the wrestler ( Stewart Smith aka Syko Stu) is awake and stable. Raja was unexpectedly hit in the side of the head by him moments before Smith’s match, Raja was told that he could get his “payback”in the ring,i thought it was apart of the show. It was bad judgement, and a work that went wrong. Raja is a MMA fighter not a pro wrestler and had no business involved in an event like this. I don’t condone my son’s actions AT ALL! He suffered a concussion from sparring only days ago and had no business doing anything remotely close to physical contact. As a father, im deeply concerned with his health AND the well being of Mr. Smith. That being said I’m very upset that any of this happened,but my main concern now is that Mr. Smith will make a speedy recovery.I apologize on his behalf and to KICK for the situation.
Dave Meltzer, famed wrestling historian and founder of the Wrestler Observer Newsletter, stated Saturday night that Jackson’s attack “may be the worst thing I’ve ever seen in a ring.”
Uncrowned will continue to update this story as it develops.
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