Authorities in Los Angeles County have brought charges against Raja Jackson, the son of UFC legend and former mixed martial artist Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, after he violently knocked out wrestler Syko Stu during a “scripted” match.
As previously reported by Face2Face Africa, the August 23 incident occurred at a KnokX Pro Academy wrestling event in Los Angeles. Footage of the incident shows Raja, 25, repeatedly punching his opponent, Syko Stu, in the face, leaving him unconscious before other wrestlers enter the ring and restrain him.
Prior to the match, Syko Stu was seen striking Raja’s head with a beer can, CBS Sports reported. Syko Stu then repeatedly rendered an apology to Raja as he thought the latter was a worker. Jackson and Syko Stu’s subsequent matchup was supposed to be scripted, but he allegedly pummeled his opponent.
Raja was arrested weeks after the incident, and authorities on Tuesday charged him with one felony count of battery with great bodily injury and one misdemeanor count of battery on a person, TMZ Sports reported.
Raja could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison if he’s found guilty of the felony charge. He is also facing six months in prison if found guilty of the misdemeanor charge. He is scheduled to be arraigned before a court during the course of the week.
In the wake of the incident, Raja’s father stated that though he felt Syko Stu should also be held responsible, his son still deserved to be jailed for his actions.
“Raja, I think that he should do a little [jail] time, do a little community service, and go to anger management class, get some therapy,” Jackson initially told Ariel Helwani, per TMZ.
After Helwani subsequently made reference to some people claiming that Raja tried to kill Syko Stu, Jackson begged to differ. “It wasn’t attempted murder because he wasn’t trying to kill that guy,” Jackson, 47, said.
“How do you know?” Ariel asked, with Jackson responding, “Because that’s my son. I know my son. Raja wasn’t trying to kill nobody. He wasn’t trying to kill that guy. He wasn’t trying to kill that guy. Raja probably didn’t even know how bad he hurt that guy. He wasn’t trying to kill that guy.”
Jackson also apportioned blame on the promoters for putting his son in the ring. “Raja was in the act as a pro wrestler, but he ain’t no f****** pro wrestler. The promoters had no reason putting my son in that f****** ring. But it was no attempted f****** murder,” he explained.
In the wake of the attack, Syko Stu was ultimately hospitalized after he sustained multiple head injuries from the attack. His wife, Contessa, however, later announced that he had been discharged from the hospital and was nursing his injuries at home.
