The wrestling world is still processing the aftermath of the August 23rd incident at a KnokX Pro event, where MMA fighter Raja Jackson entered the ring and attacked Syko Stu. The altercation began after Stu, reportedly as part of the show, hit Jackson with a beer can. In response, Jackson delivered a slam that left Stu unconscious and followed up with more than 20 punches to the head before being stopped.
The attack left Stu, whose real name is Stuart Smith, with a significant head injury, a fractured maxilla bone, trauma to his jaws, and several lost teeth. The incident also had professional repercussions, leading to KnokX Pro Wrestling losing its WWE ID affiliate status.
Now, WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair has offered his perspective, suggesting that there’s more to the situation than what has been seen online. Speaking to The Escapist, Flair explained that while the response was excessive, the full context might be unknown to the public.
“I’m very close to Rampage and I tried calling him, but obviously he wasn’t taking calls. A receipt here or there keeps everybody straight. But not to that extent. I’m not defending the actions by any means, but you never know the extent of what happened if you were not there. We’re probably missing several key components to what happened. I’ve never lost my cool in the ring. I’ve had to punch some guys back like Vader, just because he was always trying to rough me up. One punch and then everybody calms down, smooth it over.”
Flair’s take on giving a “receipt” stands in contrast to the stronger condemnations from others in the industry. Fellow Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett, for instance, called the attack “absolutely, totally, bulls*** wrong” and stated his belief that Jackson will “pay for it.”
The comments from Flair add another layer to the perspective of Raja’s father, MMA legend Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Initially, Rampage stated his son deserved punishment and wasn’t above the law. He has since shifted his tone slightly, claiming that Stu was drunk and reckless, though he has not provided evidence for these claims. This aligns with Flair’s sentiment that key details might not be public.
While the wrestling community debates the incident, a police investigation is reportedly underway. According to former UFC fighter Josh Thomson, the Los Angeles Police Department is meticulously building an “airtight” case before making an arrest to ensure Jackson doesn’t get out on bail. As of now, Raja Jackson has not been arrested.