LOS ANGELES — A son of former UFC champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson appeared to brutally attack a pro wrestler during an indie show in Los Angeles on Saturday night in what the elder Jackson called a case of “bad judgement, and a work that went wrong.”
Video of the incident shows Raja Jackson entering the ring at a KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy event during a match and slamming wrestler Stuart Smith, whose ring name is Syko Stu, to the mat. Jackson then mounts Smith in the video and punches him in the face almost two dozen times before other wrestlers pull him off.
Smith, who seemed to lose consciousness and was not able to try to protect himself from the punches, lay motionless in the ring, blood streaming from his face.
In a Facebook post Monday, his brother said Smith was "conscious and does have some recollection of events from the day of the attack."
"He’s currently resting and says, ‘Thank you for the love and support,'" Andrew Smith added.
Los Angeles police spokesperson Norma Eisenman confirmed that officers responded to the 8500 block of Lankershim Boulevard and took a report. KnokX Pro Wrestling lists its address as 8548 Lankershim Blvd.
An LAPD spokesperson said Monday that a felony battery report had been completed but that no arrests had been made.
Raja Jackson did not respond to a request for comment sent through social media. Smith also did not respond to a similar request.
Quinton Jackson said on X that the incident was “bad judgement, and a work that went wrong,” using the wrestling term “work,” which refers to something that is scripted.
“Raja is a MMA fighter not a pro wrestler and had no business [being] involved in an event like this,” he said. “I don’t condone my son’s actions AT ALL!”
In a statement on Facebook, KnokX Pro Wrestling sent thoughts and prayers to Smith and apologized to fans. The promotion seemed to confirm the incident was not planned.
“What was supposed to be a planned and agreed upon wrestling spot, turned into a selfish, irresponsible act of violence against Mr. Smith,” it said. “This egregious act is reprehensible and never should have occurred.”
KnokX did not answer calls seeking comment Sunday night.
The attack was streamed on Kick. In a statement, a spokesperson for the livestreaming platform said Raja Jackson's account had been suspended.
"KICK’s community guidelines make it clear that excessive violence is not permitted," the statement said. "Content in breach of our guidelines is removed and users will be suspended or banned."
Video preceding the attack showed Smith crushing a can on Raja Jackson’s head, seemingly not knowing Jackson was not a wrestler. Jackson got angry, but another video showed the pair apparently making up.
A third video after that showed another wrestler telling Jackson to give someone a “receipt.” It was not clear in the video whether the wrestler was referring specifically to Smith; a “receipt” in pro wrestling parlance means a legitimate strike or attack, usually as a form of retribution for a wayward spot during a match.
Quinton Jackson referred to that altercation in his post on X, saying his son, who he said had sustained a concussion during sparring just days earlier, was told he could get his “payback” in the ring.
“As a father, im deeply concerned with his health AND the well being of Mr. Smith,” Quinton Jackson 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.”
The elder Jackson is a decorated mixed martial artist who has held championship gold in the UFC and has dabbled in pro wrestling. Raja Jackson, 25, has a professional MMA record of one win and one loss.
