Raja Jackson, the 25-year-old son of UFC legend Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, has been arrested in Los Angeles following a disturbing in-ring incident on professional wrestler Stuart Smith — better known as Syko Stu —during a live wrestling event last month.
According to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department records, Jackson was taken into custody on Thursday, September 18, by the LAPD. He faces a felony charge and is currently being held on $50,000 bail.
The arrest stems from a violent incident on August 23 at the KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy’s “Knox Experience” show in California. Jackson — initially expected to make a brief, scripted appearance — stormed the ring and unleashed a brutal unscripted attack on Smith. The incident, live-streamed on Kick, quickly went viral across social media platforms.
Jackson is seen on video slamming Smith to the mat and delivering over 20 punches to his head while Smith lay unconscious. Other wrestlers rushed in after approximately 10–11 seconds to pull Jackson off the injured performer. Witness Douglas Malo later told USA TODAY: “He was choking on his own blood and teeth. Somebody reminded me there’s kids there and then I was like ‘oh my God.'”
What was initially agreed to be a choreographed segment spiraled into real-life violence. The wrestling academy later released a statement on August 24 condemning Jackson’s actions as a “selfish, irresponsible act of violence against Mr. Smith.”
Smith was rushed to the hospital, reportedly unconscious upon arrival. His injuries included trauma to both jaws, a fractured maxilla (upper jaw bone), a severe laceration to his upper lip, and the loss of several teeth.
In an update posted to Facebook on August 31, Smith’s family confirmed he had been released from the hospital and was recovering at home. A joint statement posted to Instagram by Smith and his wife, Contessa Patterson, read: “We are deeply grateful for all the love and support we’ve received during this time. Thank you to everyone who has contributed in any way — whether through monetary donations, food, flowers, or gifts. Your kindness means more than words can express.”
A GoFundMe campaign launched by Patterson has since raised over $222,000 to assist with medical bills, recovery costs, and lost income.
The fallout from the incident has drawn public comment from Raja’s father, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, a former UFC champion and Pride legend. Speaking to Ariel Helwani on The Ariel Helwani Show on September 3, Rampage expressed a mix of anger, disappointment, and guarded support for his son.
“I think (Raja) should do a little time,” he told Helwani. “Do a little community service and go to anger management classes.”
Rampage said the situation has left him devastated. “I don’t want to hear about Raja right now. I’m mad at him,” he said. “He’s my son, I love him deeply, but he dishonored my name. I can’t even put into words how upset I am with my son… I’ve been in this sport for a long time, and when he did what he did, everything said: ‘MMA’s Rampage’s son.’ That’s my name, man. I don’t do that.”
While continuing to cover his son’s legal costs, Rampage has cut off personal contact. “I’m not disowning him forever. I just haven’t spoken to him… I just need some time. I’m very disappointed in Raja.”
When asked if jail time was appropriate, Rampage didn’t hesitate: “Yeah. If the judge thinks he should go to jail, yeah. He should go to jail so he’ll learn not to do this s**t no more. You have to control your emotions. He should go to jail, not prison, but he should do a little time, get some therapy, and learn from this.”
Rampage didn’t spare others from criticism either. He placed partial blame on Smith and the event organizers, claiming the promotion made a mistake by involving an outsider like Raja in a wrestling match.
“Everybody was wrong,” the father said. “Raja was the most wrong. Everybody was wrong, but none of this st would’ve happened if Syko Stu never hit my son on the back of the head with a can that they were drinking beer out of and grabbed him by the neck asking him to sell it. If that s*** never happened, none of this s*** happens. The promoters were wrong for putting an outsider inside of a pro wrestling match. Everybody is wrong. The dumbest thing I’ve ever seen. A f***ing nightmare.”
He added: “If that guy was fed up so bad, why would they let his opponent pin him before they got him help? The whole situation is fed up.”
Rampage also suggested the extent of Smith’s injuries may have been overstated. “People were hyping it up like he was in worse condition than he was,” he told Helwani. “He wasn’t. Just knocked some teeth out and stuff like that… I think people milked stuff for the GoFundMe. I’m sorry to say it. People milk s**t. It’s the world we live in.”
Despite the criticism, Rampage made it clear that Raja crossed a line. “Raja was wrong. As soon as Syko Stu got knocked out from the slam, Raja should’ve left him alone and not hit him no more. You got your payback. Raja took it too far,” Rampage continued.
He also blasted media outlets for amplifying what he described as “misinformation” for clicks. “There are people who took stuff out of proportion to get clicks and money from social media like my son stepped into the ring like he wasn’t supposed to be there,” he said. “That’s not fair.”
As of now, Raja Jackson has not issued a public statement. The LAPD continues to investigate the incident as felony battery. The case remains active.
Featured image credit: Kick/X (Screenshot)/Instagram/sykostu
