You’ve probably seen the clip by now. It’s hard to miss if you spend any time on Kick or X. A guy in street clothes hops into a wrestling ring, slams a performer to the mat, and just starts unloading. It isn't a "work." It isn't a "spot." It is a brutal, unscripted assault that left a veteran wrestler in the ICU.
The man in the video is Raja Jackson, the 25-year-old son of UFC legend Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. The victim is Stuart Smith, known to fans as Syko Stu.
What was supposed to be a scripted "moment" at the KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy in Sun Valley turned into one of the most disturbing incidents in recent combat sports history. People are calling it a "work gone wrong," but when you watch the footage, it looks a lot more like a felony. Honestly, it basically is.
The Viral Incident: Why the Raja Jackson Fight Video Went Everywhere
The video started circulating in late August 2025. It captures a small, intimate wrestling show—the kind where the crowd is right up against the apron. Syko Stu is in the ring. Suddenly, Raja Jackson enters.
He doesn't look like a wrestler. He’s an MMA fighter by trade, following in his father’s footsteps. Within seconds, Raja slams Stu onto the canvas. What follows is twenty-two punches. Most of those were directed straight at the head of a man who appeared to be unconscious after the initial impact.
The most chilling part? Other wrestlers had to physically pile onto Raja to get him to stop. He didn't just walk away; he had to be peeled off.
A Scripted Set-up Gone Horribly Wrong
There is a backstory here that makes the whole thing even more confusing. Before the actual "fight" video, another clip emerged. It shows Syko Stu hitting Raja Jackson on the side of the head with a beer can.
In the world of pro wrestling, this is called "building heat." It’s a way to get the audience excited for a later confrontation. Rampage Jackson later claimed his son was told he could get his "payback" in the ring as part of the show.
But Raja is an MMA fighter, not a trained professional wrestler. There is a massive difference between "working" a punch (making it look real without hurting the person) and actually trying to cave someone's skull in. Somewhere between the locker room and the ring, the line between performance and reality vanished.
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The Medical Reality for Syko Stu
While the internet was busy debating whether the video was "fake," Stuart Smith was fighting for his life in a Los Angeles hospital. The injuries were extensive. We aren't just talking about a black eye or a bruised ego.
- Facial Fractures: Serious trauma to both the upper and lower jaws.
- Brain Injury: Smith spent several days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for a serious head injury.
- Dental Damage: He lost several teeth during the 22-punch barrage.
- Lacerations: Deep cuts to his face and lip that required significant medical attention.
Smith, a military veteran who used wrestling to help manage his PTSD, saw his career end in that ring. By October 2025, reports confirmed he was officially retiring from the sport. It’s a tragic end for a guy who was just trying to entertain a small crowd in Sun Valley.
Legal Consequences and the LAPD Investigation
For a few weeks, there was a lot of silence from the authorities. That changed in mid-September 2025. Raja Jackson was arrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
He was charged with a felony—specifically battery with serious bodily injury. Records showed he was held on a $50,000 bond. The LAPD didn't see this as a "sports mishap." They saw a man being beaten while motionless on a livestream.
The Fallout for KnokX Pro and WWE Connections
The ripples from this incident hit the industry hard. KnokX Pro, the academy where this happened, was previously affiliated with WWE ID, a developmental program designed to scout independent talent.
Within days of the video going viral, WWE seemingly scrubbed KnokX Pro from its recruitment websites. Pro Wrestling Insider reported that the association was severed almost immediately. The school's owners called Raja's actions "heinous" and "reprehensible." They were clearly trying to save their reputation, but the damage was done.
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What Rampage Jackson Had to Say
It’s gotta be tough being the father in this situation. Rampage Jackson is a legend, known for his power and his personality. But he didn't make excuses for his son.
Rampage took to social media to apologize to Syko Stu and the fans. He mentioned that Raja had actually suffered a concussion during sparring just days before the event. He suggested that his son had no business being in the ring or having any physical contact at all.
He even went as far as to say that Raja might need "jail time, community service, and therapy." That’s a heavy statement from a father, but it shows the gravity of what happened.
Why This Matters for the Future of Indie Wrestling
This whole mess shines a light on the "clout" culture currently infecting combat sports. Everything is filmed. Everything is livestreamed to platforms like Kick where the "chat" often eggs on the performers to do something crazy.
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When you mix untrained "celebrity" athletes with seasoned pro wrestlers, you're playing with fire. If you don't have the discipline to "pull" your punches, people get hurt. Permanently.
Actionable Insights: What We Can Learn
If you’re a fan of indie wrestling or a promoter, there are some serious takeaways from the Raja Jackson situation:
- Vetting is Non-Negotiable: Letting an MMA fighter with zero wrestling training enter a ring for a "physical spot" is a massive liability.
- Medical Clearance: If a performer has a recent concussion (as Rampage claimed Raja did), they should be nowhere near a ring.
- The "Work" vs. "Shoot" Boundary: Clear communication between performers is the only thing that keeps wrestling safe. If one person thinks it's a show and the other thinks it's a fight, someone ends up in the hospital.
- Platform Accountability: Livestreaming sites need better protocols for when "entertainment" turns into a literal crime in real-time.
The Raja Jackson fight video isn't just a viral clip. It’s a cautionary tale about ego, lack of training, and the high price of "clout" in the modern age of sports.
To stay informed on the legal outcome of this case, you should monitor the Los Angeles County court records for Raja Jackson's upcoming hearing dates. Following the official social media updates from Stuart Smith (Syko Stu) is also the best way to support his ongoing recovery journey and GoFundMe efforts.