On the weekend of August 23, 2025, the independent wrestling world was rocked by one of the most disturbing incidents in recent memory. At a KnokX Pro Wrestling event in Sun Valley, Los Angeles, Raja Jackson, the son of former UFC champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, brutally assaulted professional wrestler Stuart Smith, known to fans as Syko Stu. What began as a misunderstanding backstage spiraled into a horrifying real-life attack that left Smith hospitalized and the entire industry calling for accountability.

The Attack Caught on Video

The attack itself was caught on video and spread rapidly online. In the footage, Raja Jackson storms the ring, lifts Syko Stu, and slams him hard to the mat. From there, he unleashed a flurry of more than twenty punches directly to Stu’s head, continuing even after the wrestler was knocked unconscious. Other performers and staff eventually pulled Jackson off, but the damage had already been done. Smith suffered broken facial bones, lost multiple teeth, and was rushed to the hospital. As of this week, he has regained consciousness and is said to be stable, though his recovery will be long and difficult.

How It All Began

Reports suggest the chaos began earlier in the evening when Raja showed up backstage with cameras and began filming the wrestlers without permission. In wrestling culture, that’s an immediate red flag. Wrestling locker rooms are sacred spaces, and outsiders barging in with cameras is an unforgivable breach of etiquette. When Syko Stu noticed, he did what wrestlers do best—he stayed in character. He struck Raja with what appeared to be a prop beer can, the kind of spot designed to get a laugh or stir the crowd if it happened in front of fans. Raja, however, didn’t understand the difference between a staged strike and a real one.

After tempers flared, the misunderstanding was explained. By most accounts, the two shook hands and moved on. They even agreed to set up a planned “revenge” moment for later in the show. In wrestling, this is how things often get smoothed over: turn it into entertainment, let the audience believe in the heat, but keep everyone safe. But instead of a worked skit, what unfolded was anything but safe.

The Role of AJ Mana

Backstage before the match, another figure entered the picture: a wrestler named AJ Mana, described in eyewitness accounts as wearing a cowboy hat. Mana reportedly told Raja to “get his receipt” during the match. In pro wrestling, a “receipt” means giving back a stiff—but safe—shot if someone accidentally hits you too hard. It’s a way to even the score without escalating beyond control. But telling an untrained MMA fighter—especially one already hot-headed and unfamiliar with the culture of wrestling—to deliver a “receipt” was reckless in the extreme. It was like handing a live weapon to someone who didn’t know how to use it.

The Breakdown of Safety

The result was catastrophic. Raja Jackson treated the agreed-upon skit as an open license to pummel his opponent for real. The referee failed in his responsibility to stop the fight once it was clear that Syko Stu was no longer defending himself. The locker room took too long to intervene, and by the time they did, Stu was already unconscious. Every level of protection that should exist in a wrestling match broke down in those few minutes.

Fallout and Consequences

The fallout has been swift and severe. The Los Angeles Police Department has opened an investigation into the attack, treating it as a potential felony assault. WWE, which had previously listed KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy as part of its WWE ID program, pulled its affiliation from the promotion almost immediately. Rikishi, the WWE Hall of Famer who runs KnokX Pro, issued a statement condemning the attack as “selfish” and “irresponsible,” and promised to review safety protocols. But words may not be enough to restore trust.

The Community Responds

Fans and industry figures alike are demanding accountability. Many believe Raja Jackson should face criminal charges, and some wrestlers have said publicly that prison time would be appropriate. AJ Mana’s role in encouraging Raja has also come under heavy scrutiny, with calls for him to be blacklisted from the business. The referee who allowed the assault to continue unchecked may never work again. And KnokX Pro itself faces serious questions about its culture and leadership. Allowing an untrained, concussed MMA fighter into the ring without oversight was negligence of the highest order.

Debunking the “Work” Theory

Some skeptics have floated the idea that this was all part of the show, that perhaps the attack was a “work.” But anyone with even a passing familiarity with pro wrestling can dismiss that notion. Wrestlers protect one another, even when strikes look brutal. This was not a carefully planned spot. It was a violent, unscripted assault that nearly cost a man his life. To suggest otherwise is to ignore the video evidence, the hospital reports, and the statements from Stu’s own family.

A Family’s Plea

As of today, Syko Stu’s brother has spoken out, confirming that he remains under medical care and warning fans against fraudulent fundraisers claiming to be for his benefit. No official GoFundMe has been established, despite scam attempts circulating online. It’s another sad layer to a story that has already seen too much exploitation.

What Comes Next

Where does the wrestling world go from here? First, there must be accountability. Raja Jackson should face legal consequences for what he did. AJ Mana and the referee who failed to act should be held professionally responsible, if not legally. KnokX Pro should face sanctions, and its leadership needs to make real changes if they hope to survive this scandal. Wrestling, like all performance art, only works because of trust. When that trust is broken—especially in such a violent and public way—it damages the credibility of the entire industry.

Second, indie wrestling promotions must learn from this. Vetting outsiders is not optional. Safety protocols must be reinforced, and referees must be empowered to stop matches the moment real danger emerges. The blurred lines between performance and reality are what make pro wrestling so compelling, but when those lines aren’t managed responsibly, they can lead to disaster.

Conclusion: Protecting the Art of Wrestling

At the heart of this story is Syko Stu, a veteran performer who nearly lost his life doing what he loved. The wrestling community now has a responsibility to support him in his recovery and to make sure nothing like this happens again. Because while fans love the drama of a heated storyline, no one should ever confuse that with the kind of brutality we saw in Los Angeles. That was not pro wrestling. That was a crime.