The road between actuality and leisure was severed on August 23, 2025, when an in-ring incident throughout a KnokX Professional Wrestling occasion resulted in considered one of its grapplers, Stuart Smith, being admitted to intensive care. His household have now offered an replace on the intense state of affairs that apparently noticed MMA fighter Raja Jackson wound the wrestler.
Raja Jackson is the son of former UFC Mild Heavyweight Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and was understood to have been visitor on the KnokX Professional present. He was seen earlier within the day arguing with Smith, who wrestles below the identify “Syko Stu,” after the grappler pressed a beverage can towards his head, later apologizing for the incident. Whereas experiences now counsel that this was all a part of a arrange for Jackson to intervene in Smith’s match later within the present, what went down subsequent obtained critically out of hand and resulted in important harm.
In professional wrestling, it may be tough to find out what’s actual, and what’s scripted, however in what was possible a stunt that obtained out of hand, Raja Jackson did intervene in Smith’s match later that day, however reasonably than inflict faux punches, the video exhibits him raining a succession of devastating blows on the blindsided wrestler that left him in a pool of his personal blood. Extra footage from earlier than the incident seems to indicate a wrestler encouraging Jackson backstage to provide Smith a “receipt,” wrestling terminology that implies getting your individual again for actual after being disrespected.
Once more, whether or not this was a “work” or actual life was not clear as of the time of writing, however what wouldn’t have been deliberate was the ferocity of Jackson’s alleged assault, which was streamed dwell on KICK for the world to witness. In response to fellow professional wrestler, Douglas Malo, Smith misplaced a number of enamel in the course of the assault and was “chocking on his personal blood” by the point different wrestlers eliminated Jackson from the ring. Smith was later rushed to the hospital with many wrestling followers fearing that he may lose his life.
Raja Jackson, 25, son of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, brutally attacked wrestler Stuart Smith at a Knokx Professional Wrestling . Jackson slammed Smith and threw over 20 punches, leaving him unconscious and hospitalized.😳
— Rain Drops Media (@Raindropsmedia1) August 24, 2025
Stuart “Syko Stu” Smith’s household present replace after incident with Raja Jackson
“Thanks for each considered one of your payers, issues, and type phrases for my brother Stu,” wrote the wrestler’s brother, Andrew, by way of Fb on August 25. “Please proceed to maintain him in your Prayers. He’s at the moment steady, however in vital care. Right now, we’re targeted on his restoration and respect his thought.”
Stuart Smith has talked prior to now about his life as a U.S. Military Veteran and the way getting within the ring has helped him to take care of PTSD. In an earlier assertion, KnokX Professional Wrestling stated that what had initially been deliberate as a pre-planned combat “become a egocentric, irresponsible act of violence towards Mr. Smith.”
In fact, blurring the strains between “actual” preventing and professional wrestling has been round virtually so long as the artform itself. In a current chat with M&F, Floyd Mayweather Jr revealed how he’d been inspired to punch Paul “Huge Present” Wight for actual throughout a stunt in WWE. The distinction right here is that officers and expertise labored carefully to be sure that everybody was knowledgeable and consenting. Raja Jackson will be seen hitting Stuart Smith greater than 20 instances throughout their altercation nevertheless. This led many followers and observers to name for anybody getting concerned in a professional wrestling present to obtain ample bodily coaching and psychological analysis earlier than being allowed to step between the ropes. Raja’s father, Quentin Jackson, has additionally launched a press release calling the incident “unhealthy judgement, and a piece that went incorrect.”
Police at the moment are investigating the matter.