Former UFC champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has publicly expressed his regret and concern following a troubling incident involving his son, Raja Jackson, during a wrestling event in Sun Valley, California. The event, held on Saturday night, took a chaotic turn when Raja allegedly committed “a selfish, irresponsible act of violence” against a wrestler known as Syko Stu, whose real name is Stuart Smith.
Footage from the event, which has circulated on social media, shows Raja Jackson, a professional MMA fighter, entering the ring during another match. In the video, he is seen throwing Syko Stu to the mat and then proceeding to straddle him, delivering multiple punches to Smith's face and side, even as Smith lay motionless on the ground. Other wrestlers quickly intervened and restrained Raja. It’s important to note that CNN has not yet been able to independently verify the authenticity of the video, and Raja Jackson’s profile on the livestreaming platform Kick has since been removed. CNN has reached out to Kick for clarification regarding the incident.
In a statement posted on X on Sunday morning, Rampage Jackson vehemently distanced himself from his son’s actions, stating, “I don’t condone my son’s actions AT ALL!” He also mentioned that Syko Stu was awake and stable after the incident. Rampage further explained that Raja had suffered a concussion from sparring just days before the event and should not have been involved in any physical confrontation. “As a father, I’m deeply concerned with his health AND the well-being of Mr. Smith,” he wrote. “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 (Raja Jackson’s) behalf and to KICK for the situation.”
The event organizers, KnokX, released a statement indicating that the incident was initially intended to be a scripted part of the wrestling show, referred to as a “work” in wrestling parlance. However, they emphasized that it was never meant to escalate to the level of violence that occurred. “First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with our brother Mr. Stuart Smith (Syko Stu) as he remains a priority and we are monitoring his well-being,” the statement read. “What was supposed to be a planned and agreed-upon wrestling spot turned into a selfish, irresponsible act of violence against Mr. Smith. This egregious act is reprehensible and never should have occurred. In the 17 years of operation of KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy, there has never been anything as heinous take place such as this, and we apologize to our patrons and fans.”
Additionally, another video shared on X, which remains unverified by CNN, appears to show Syko Stu hitting Raja Jackson with a can outside the venue prior to the event, leading to a confrontation that required separation. Rampage Jackson later commented on this altercation, stating, “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 a part of the show. It was bad judgment, 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.”
