Raja Jackson pleads not guilty to assaulting Syko Stu as seven-year sentence looms
Kick streamer Raja Jackson, son of UFC legend Rampage Jackson, has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the assault of professional wrestler Syko Stu during a live broadcast.
The 25-year-old appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom on October 9, facing one felony count of battery with bodily injury and one misdemeanour count of battery.
The charges follow a violent incident on August 23 at KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy in California. While livestreaming on Kick, Jackson entered the ring and repeatedly struck wrestler Syko Stu, whose real name is Stewart Smith. Earlier that evening, the pair had staged a playful exchange after Stu splashed Jackson with beer, but witnesses said the later attack was genuine and unprovoked.
Smith suffered serious facial injuries and has reportedly retired from in-ring performance. Jackson was arrested in September, nearly a month after the altercation. Prosecutors are seeking a great bodily injury enhancement that could extend his potential sentence from four to seven years if convicted. The misdemeanour battery charge relates to another wrestler, Douglas Malo, who intervened during the assault.
Video footage from the stream showed Jackson warning viewers beforehand that it was his “dream to f**k up a pro wrestler” and that he was “really going to hit him.” The footage was widely shared online, prompting outrage across social media. KnokX Pro Wrestling condemned the act as “a selfish, irresponsible act of violence.”
Kick has since banned Jackson’s account, while a GoFundMe campaign to support Syko Stu’s recovery has raised over $225,000. Jackson is scheduled to return to the San Fernando Courthouse on November 24 for a preliminary hearing to determine if the case proceeds to trial.
