Raja Jackson Begins Jail Sentence Over Syko Stu Attack

Raja Jackson finds himself behind bars after being jailed on Thursday by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department over his attack of Syko Stu in August 2025.

Jackson being taken into custody came after a hearing as part of his plea deal with authorities. Under the terms of the deal, Raja Jackson - the son of former UFC fighter Quinton "Rampage" Jackson - will spend 90 days in jail, pay restitution of $81,000 to Syko Stu, and spend two years on formal probation. Jackson's attorney, Michael Freedman, noted on Thursday that Jackson will likely be released at the next hearing in late September.

Raja Jackson was arrested in September 2025 over his attack of Syko Stu - real name Stuart Smith - at a KnokX Pro Wrestling event on August 23, 2025. During the attack, Jackson knocked Syko Stu unconscious with a slam and then punched him 21 times, only stopping after he was pulled away from Stu by other wrestlers.

Jackson's attack of Stu occurred following an incident earlier in the evening when Stu hit Raja with a beer can while they were both backstage at the KnokX Pro event after Stu mistakenly believed Jackson was a fellow wrestler. Stu promptly apologised for the incident but Jackson only agreed to shake the wrestler's hand after it was agreed the situation would be turned into an angle where Jackson would interfere in Stu's match.

The interaction was streamed on Raja Jackson's Kick channel and he remained on Kick throughout the evening, during which another wrestler in AJ Mana was shown encouraging Jackson to "give Stu a receipt." Jackson then stated he would be satisfied as long as he "gets his lick back."

Ahead of the planned angle, Jackson became increasingly angry on the Kick stream and he stated before he was due to head to the ring that he was going to hit Syko Stu as hard as he could until he was pulled away.

Jackson originally pleaded not guilty but he cut a plea deal with prosecutors in May 2026, pleading no contest to one felony count of battery with serious bodily injury, personal infliction of great bodily injury, and engaging in violent conduct.

Following the attack, Syko Stu was hospitalised for one week and retired from professional wrestling in October 2025.

Stu was in attendance for Jackson's hearing on Thursday and noted he has suffered from memory loss and reduced cognitive function because of Jackson's attack, while he has also been unable to work for close to a year.

"What happened affected me deeply and I do not minimise the seriousness of it. The injuries I suffered led to a long and difficult recovery that I am still trying to recover from, including treatment for a severe traumatic brain injury, a shattered maxilla and a bone graft procedure," Stu said.

Ultimately, though, Syko Stu forgave Jackson for the attack, adding: "I do not stand here with hatred for a desire for revenge. I hold no grudges against Mr Jackson. People can make terrible decisions in difficult moments."

For KnokX Pro, the promotion was dropped from the WWE ID programme in the aftermath of Jackson's attack. Rikishi then departed the company in May 2026.

H/T LA Times