Rampage Jackson’s son, Raja, assaults wrestler during livestream

LOS ANGELES: Chaos erupted at a pro wrestling event in Los Angeles on Saturday night after Raja Jackson, son of former UFC champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, allegedly assaulted a wrestler during a live show, sending him to the hospital with serious injuries.

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The incident occurred during the Knox Experience show hosted by KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy, a WWE ID-affiliated promotion. Raja Jackson, who is not a trained professional wrestler, interrupted a tag-team match and violently attacked wrestler Stuart Smith, known in the ring as Syko Stu, in front of a live audience and thousands watching online via Jackson’s Kick livestream.

Jackson lifted Smith and slammed him to the mat before unleashing a barrage of at least 20 punches while straddling him, as seen in the stream. Smith appeared to lose consciousness during the attack.

Following the incident, Smith was rushed to the hospital with facial fractures and extensive dental damage, according to fellow wrestler Douglas Malo, who intervened to stop the assault.

“He was choking on his own blood and teeth,” Malo told USA TODAY. “Somebody reminded me there were kids there and then I was like, ‘Oh my God.’”

KnokX Pro issued a statement condemning the incident, calling it a “selfish, irresponsible act of violence.” The statement said, “What was supposed to be a planned and agreed upon wrestling spot turned into a reprehensible attack against Mr Smith. This egregious act never should have occurred.”

As of Sunday, August 24, Smith was conscious and speaking, and was expected to be released from the hospital later that day, according to Malo.

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED?

Footage from the live stream shows tensions began backstage, where Smith – in character – confronted Jackson and struck him with a beer can. It remains unclear if the can was a “gimmicked” (staged) prop or a real object.

Initially, the altercation appeared to have been smoothed over. KnokX trainer Reno Anoa’i explained that Jackson wasn’t a trained wrestler, prompting Smith to apologise. The two shook hands on stream, and Jackson was incorporated into the match storyline.

However, another wrestler identified as Andre Joel Hudson, a friend of Jackson, was heard on the livestream telling him to “give him his receipt,” a wrestling term implying retaliation. Jackson responded, “As long as I get my lick back, I’m straight.”

Malo later accused Hudson of inciting the situation.

Jackson was escorted out of the venue while launching into a profanity-filled rant, also captured on the stream. In the aftermath, a voice on a phone call, allegedly Hudson, told Jackson that Smith had “flatlined” in the ring. Jackson replied, “My bad.”

Veteran wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer described the moment as “possibly the worst thing I’ve ever seen in a ring.”

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson publicly denounced his son’s actions in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “I don’t condone my son’s actions AT ALL! It was bad judgement, 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.”

I want 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. 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…

— Rampage Jackson (@Rampage4real) August 24, 2025

He also claimed that Raja had suffered a concussion from sparring days prior to the incident. Raja Jackson has not publicly commented on the incident so far.

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Soon after the incident, social media erupted for calls to file criminal charges. Malo also called for both Jackson and Hudson to be held criminally accountable. There are no confirmed reports, so far, if any investigation has been opened or a case has been registered.