UFC legend Rampage Jackson’s son faces seven years in jail over wrestling horror assault
Stewart Smith was left hospitalised by Raja Jackson following an ‘unscripted assault’ during a KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy match – WWE has since severed ties with the company
The world of wrestling turned painfully real when Kick streamer Raja Jackson, the son of UFC legend Rampage Jackson, ended up in court charged with assaulting a wrestler.
Raja, 25, pleaded not guilty in a Los Angeles court on October 9 following an previous livestream at KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy against Stewart Smith, known professionally as Syko Stu.
The chaos unfolded on August 23, when a fired-up Jackson stormed the ring mid-show and unleashed a flurry of punches on Smith. It resulted in the latter being left in hospital with “very serious” facial injuries – he has since reportedly retired from in-ring action for good.
In shocking footage shared online, Jackson is heard telling fans before the incident that it was his “dream to f*** up a pro wrestler” and warning viewers he was “really going to hit him.”
Sources say there had been an earlier altercation between the pair involving a staged beer spot. Things then escalated with wrestling promoters reportedly trying to turn the drama into a storyline.
According to court documents, reports Dexerto, Jackson has been slapped with one felony count of battery with bodily injury and a misdemeanor battery charge – the latter relating to another wrestler, Douglas Malo, who tried to break up the fight and ended up getting attacked too.
Jackson could face up time behind bars as prosecutors are seeking a great bodily injury enhancement that could increase the maximum sentence to seven years. The misdemeanor charge carries up to six months in jail.
Following the viral brawl, Kick wasted no time in banning Jackson’s channel, while a GoFundMe for Syko Stu’s medical bills has soared to nearly $223,000 (£167,000) at the time of writing.
His wife wrote on the page: “I’m reaching out to get support for my husband, Stuart Smith, better known as SykoStu.
“On August 23rd he was involved in an unscripted assault that has left him in the hospital with intense recovery needed to regain good health.
“Stuart Smith is a U.S. Army veteran who used wrestling as an outlet to deal with his PTSD, this incident has not only caused major physical harm, but will also disrupt his career inside the ring and outside of it.”
KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy, once linked to WWE’s independent development programme, condemned the incident as a “selfish, irresponsible act of violence,” and has since been quietly distancing itself from the chaos.
Jackson said nothing in court, leaving the talking to his lawyer, Michael Freedman, who declined to comment beyond the not guilty plea.
He’s due back in court on November 24 for a preliminary hearing at San Fernando Courthouse, where a judge will decide if this case will go to full trial.
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