Things went extremely wrong at a Knokx Pro Wrestling event in Los Angeles on Saturday August 23rd.
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s son Raja — who holds a 4-0 amateur MMA record and is 0-1 as a pro — was set to participate in a match involving regional wrestler Syko Stu (real name Stuart Smith). But Jackson was reportedly upset that Stu had smashed a beer can on his head in the lead-up to the match and things got out of hand very quickly.
Video streamed on Kick shows Raja slamming Smith on his head, knocking him out. He then followed up with over a dozen punches to the unresponsive wrestler’s face, leaving him bleeding on the canvas. Smith was taken to the hospital in serious condition. Many feared he may not survive, but he is currently reported as being stable.
Raja’s father Quinton Jackson has commented on the situation, saying he wanted 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,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “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 judgment, 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, I’m 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.”
We’ll have more updates on this story as it develops.