Raja Jackson Pleads Not Guilty To Battery Charges Over Syko Stu Incident

Raja Jackson has pleaded not guilty to battery charges in relation to his attack of Syko Stu at a KnokX Pro Wrestling event on Saturday, August 23.

Raja Jackson – the son of former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rampage Jackson – entered a Los Angeles court on Thursday to issue his plea. Jackson faces charges of one felony count of battery with bodily injury and one misdemeanour count of battery, with prosecutors seeking a sentencing enhancement that could see Jackson spend up to seven years in prison should he be found guilty. The felony charge usually carries a potential sentence of up to four years in prison.

Jackson will next be in court for a preliminary hearing on November 24 at Los Angeles' San Fernando Courthouse.

Raja Jackson was arrested on Thursday, September 18 in relation to his attack of Syko Stu and he was released on a $50,000 bail shortly after. Jackson attacked Stu (real name Stuart Smith) at a KnokX Pro show on August 23, knocking Stu unconscious with a slam before punching him 21 times, with Jackson only stopping after he was pulled away from Stu by other wrestlers.

Jackson's attack stemmed from an incident earlier in the night when Stu hit Raja with a beer can while backstage at the KnokX Pro event after mistakenly believing Jackson was a fellow wrestler. Smith apologised over the incident and Jackson only agreed to shake Syko Stu's hand after it was agreed the situation would be turned into a pro wrestling angle that would see Jackson interfere in Stu's match on the show.

Jackson streamed on Kick throughout the night and AJ Mana, who invited Raja to the show, was shown on the stream following the beer can incident encouraging Jackson to "give Stu a receipt." Jackson noted he would be happy as long as he "gets his lick back" and the son of Rampage Jackson became increasingly angry as the night continued to the point he said shortly before the angle that he was going to hit Syko Stu as hard as he could until he was pulled away.

Syko Stu was hospitalised for one week following the attack, while KnokX Pro, which is owned by Rikishi and Black Pearl, were dropped from the WWE ID programme. AJ Mana was also suspended from his job.