According to TMZ, 25-year-old Raja Jackson was arrested on 18/9 and is being held on felony assault charges, with bail set at 50,000 USD. The incident occurred almost a month prior at the KnokX Pro Wrestling academy in California during a live stream on the Kick platform.

Raja Jackson attacks Stewart Smith during the staged wrestling match at Sun Valley academy in Los Angeles, California.

During the performance, Jackson unexpectedly jumped into the ring, lifted and slammed wrestler Stewart Smith to the floor, then delivered over 20 punches to Smith’s face while he was unconscious. Other wrestlers intervened, but Smith suffered severe injuries, including a broken jaw, a torn lip, lost teeth, and facial bone damage.

Wrestler Douglas Malo, who was present at the event, recounted, "I saw the slam, then the first and second punch. I wish I had jumped in right then. I was truly haunted by seeing my friend lying motionless and being subjected to such violence,".

Prior to the event, Smith reportedly mistook Jackson’s appearance as part of the script, leading to a minor altercation where he threw a beer can at Jackson’s head. The two later shook hands, but organizers attempted to incorporate the conflict into the storyline. During the livestream, Jackson stated his intention to physically assault Smith and proceeded to do so.

KnokX Pro Wrestling released a statement condemning Jackson’s actions, calling them selfish, irresponsible, and damaging to the spirit of staged athletic performances. The academy stated that in its 17 years of operation, it had never experienced such a severe incident.

Smith, a US military veteran, spent several days in a coma. While he has regained consciousness, he still suffers from lingering effects. His family stated that he will require months to fully recover. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist with medical expenses, raising tens of thousands of dollars, including a 10,000 USD contribution from popular YouTuber MrBeast.

47-year-old Rampage Jackson is a former UFC light heavyweight champion. His 25-year-old son, Raja, is also an MMA fighter. Rampage Jackson did not defend his son. In a statement to the press, the former UFC champion said, "He went too far. I think he needs some jail time to learn how to control his emotions. I hope one day I can shake Smith’s hand and apologize for my son,".

Compiled by Hoang An