Raja Jackson, son of former UFC star Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, made headlines when a scripted performance at a Knokx Pro Wrestling event in California escalated into a brutal real assault, injuring a professional wrestler.
On August 23, 2025, the incident, captured live on the Kick streaming platform, sparked heated debates about the dangers of mixing MMA fighters with professional wrestling.
Raja Jackson, born in Memphis, Tennessee, is a 25-year-old rising star in mixed martial arts (MMA). As the son of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, a former UFC light heavyweight champion, actor, kickboxer, and occasional professional wrestler, Raja has big shoes to fill.
Known as “da Clone” for his striking similarity to his father’s aggressive fighting style, Raja built an impressive 4-0 amateur MMA record, with many wins by knockout or submission. His father has often praised his determination, drawing parallels to his own legendary career in the Octagon.
In May 2023, Raja announced his transition to professional MMA after a dominant technical knockout in his final amateur fight.
Fans were excited, hoping he would follow in his father’s footsteps and make a name for himself in the UFC.
Despite a loss in his professional debut against Steve Collins at United Fight League 3 in 2023, Raja’s powerful and exciting fights have kept him in the spotlight as a fighter to watch.
The Incident Occurred During a Knokx Pro Wrestling Event Linked to WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi’s Wrestling School
Before the event began, Raja was involved in a confrontation outside the venue. A video clip circulating online shows independent wrestler Stuart Smith, known as Syko Stu, approaching Raja and saying, “You don’t know me?” When Raja responded, “Hell no,” Smith smashed a prop beer can on the side of Raja’s head as part of a planned stunt to hype the crowd.
Unaware that it was staged, Raja grew angry. In the clip, a wrestler can be heard asking, “You’re not gonna sell it?” meaning, play along with the scripted act, while another person in the crowd clarified, “He’s not a worker, bro,” indicating Raja wasn’t a trained wrestler.
Raja, visibly upset, told his Kick livestream audience, “Just wait, I’m going to get my get back.”
Raja Jackson – Rampage Jacksons son almost kills a pro wrestler live on Kick. The wrestler is still out cold and could possibly die. pic.twitter.com/fxFmu3Exb8
— DahtSick💫 (@DahtSick) August 24, 2025
Thirty minutes later, during Smith’s match, Raja entered the ring as part of a scripted segment. What happened next was anything but planned.
Raja lifted Smith high above his head and slammed him hard onto the mat. With Smith appearing unconscious, Raja mounted him and unleashed over 20 full-force punches to his head.
The ruthless assault lasted about 15 seconds until other wrestlers rushed in to pull Raja off. The crowd, initially thinking it was part of the show, gasped in horror as the reality of the situation sank in.
According to wrestling journalist Sean Ross Sapp from Fightful, while Raja’s interference and slam were part of the scripted performance, the violent punches and resulting injuries were unplanned and real.
Based on what I've heard, the spot with Raja Jackson at Knokx Pro Wrestling was planned. However, Raja Jackson knocked the person out — ring name Syko Stu– and followed up with a lot of heavy punches to Syko Stu, which were not planned to do that kind of damage.
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) August 24, 2025
Stu was…
Stuart Smith, a U.S. Army veteran who uses wrestling to cope with PTSD, was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. Later reports confirmed he was awake and stable, but his recovery remains uncertain.
Rampage Jackson’s Apology and Public Outrage and Debate
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson quickly addressed the incident on social media, expressing deep regret and concern.
In a statement posted late Saturday, he clarified the events leading up to the assault and took responsibility for allowing his son to participate.
He revealed that Raja had suffered a concussion from sparring just days earlier, making any physical activity highly dangerous. Rampage wrote:
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
Rampage’s statement highlighted that the incident was a “work gone wrong”—a wrestling term for a scripted moment that turns into real violence. He emphasized that Raja, trained as an MMA fighter, was not prepared for the controlled, choreographed nature of professional wrestling.
The incident has set social media ablaze, with fans, wrestlers, and MMA enthusiasts weighing in. A viral Instagram comment captured the public’s mixed feelings:
“Y’all need to understand, yes, he was hit with a beer can. The dude had no idea Raja was not a worker. You can LITERALLY hear the guy ask “you’re not gonna sell it?” and another guy then tells him he’s not a worker. The guy was absolutely wrong for not confirming who he was before hitting him, but as soon as you walk away, self-defense is out the window. Raja came back to the issue after leaving it then proceeded to assault him with over 10+ shots that were not defended in the slightest. This is absolutely assault, quite possibly felonious assault.”
Via Instagram
On platforms like X and Reddit, reactions range from sympathy for Raja, citing the beer can incident as provocation, to outright condemnation of his actions as excessive and premeditated.
The incident is now under investigation, with legal experts suggesting Raja could face charges of assault or even felonious assault, given the video evidence and his stated intent to seek “payback.”
No charges have been announced yet, but the severity of Smith’s injuries will likely play a significant role in any legal outcome.
Raja’s Career at a Crossroads
Before this incident, Raja Jackson was a promising MMA fighter with a bright future. His amateur success and dynamic fighting style had fans excited about his potential in the professional ranks.
However, this event has cast a dark cloud over his career. The public backlash, potential legal consequences, and questions about his judgment could hinder his path to the UFC.
As the son of a combat sports icon, Raja faces immense pressure to live up to his father’s legacy.
Rampage’s apology and acknowledgment of his own role in the incident reflect the challenges of guiding a young fighter in a high-stakes industry.
Having dabbled in pro wrestling himself, Rampage understands the differences between the two worlds and has made it clear that Raja was out of his element.
The Knokx Pro Wrestling incident is a sobering reminder of the dangers of blurring the lines between scripted entertainment and real violence.
For Stuart Smith, a veteran who found solace in wrestling, the road to recovery may be long. The wrestling and MMA communities have rallied around him, wishing for a full and speedy recovery.
For Raja Jackson, the future is uncertain. As the investigation unfolds, the focus will be on accountability and preventing similar incidents.
Rampage Jackson’s son, once seen as a rising star, now faces a pivotal moment that could define his career—and his life—moving forward.
