Raja Jackson, the son of UFC legend Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, will face two charges, including a felony, for his legitimate in-ring attack on independent wrestler Syko Stu (Stuart Smith) at a KnokX Pro Wrestling event on August 23. First reported by the Los Angeles Times, Jackson will be charged with one count of felony battery causing serious bodily injury and one count of misdemeanor battery. The charges come after a month-long investigation by the LAPD into the incident.
According to the LA Times, prosecutors will also seek a sentencing enhancement because Jackson allegedly caused “great bodily injury” to Smith. “Smith, known as Syko Stu in the ring, lost several teeth and suffered a laceration to his lip during the attack, which saw Jackson body slam the wrestler and then punch him in the head and face more than 20 times,” the report stated. A criminal complaint is expected to be filed on Tuesday, and Jackson, who was arrested in September and is currently out on bail, will have an arraignment in court this week.
The incident at the KnokX Pro Wrestling show began as a planned spot but quickly turned into a legitimate and violent assault. The attack was reportedly preceded by a backstage confrontation where Stu struck Jackson in the head with a beer can, an act that Stu apparently believed was part of a “work.” The in-ring attack that followed was a brutal and one-sided beating that left Stu bloodied and hospitalized. The incident also had repercussions for the promotion, as KnokX Pro Wrestling, which also operates as a training school, had its WWE ID affiliation terminated in the wake of the attack.
The wrestling community has rallied around Syko Stu in the aftermath of the attack. A GoFundMe campaign to help with his medical expenses and recovery raised over $220,000, with top wrestling stars like Chris Jericho, Finn Balor, and Nic Nemeth being among the top donors. While Stu was released from the hospital at the end of August, he still has a long road to a full recovery.
