Raja Jackson thought he was having his viral moment when he beat down Syko Stu, but that decision could now cost him serious jail time. The 25-year-old son of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson found himself at the center of controversy after a violent outburst last month at a KnokX Pro Wrestling event in Sun Valley, Los Angeles. The incident reportedly started after wrestler Stuart “Syko Stu” Smith mistook Jackson for an event worker and smashed a beer can over his head. Raja’s retaliation, however, went far beyond the scripted chaos of the ring.

During Stu’s scheduled match, Raja Jackson stormed into the ring and turned the performance into a real assault, slamming Stu to the canvas and unloading more than 20 punches while he lay unconscious. The shocking attack was streamed live on Kick, sparking outrage across the wrestling world. Stu was hospitalized with severe injuries but has since been released and is recovering. Authorities quickly launched an investigation, which led to Jackson’s arrest. But for Raja Jackson, the arrest may only be the beginning, as harsher consequences now appear to be waiting.

Dark road ahead for Raja Jackson

After Raja Jackson’s arrest in Los Angeles, where he was charged with felony battery causing serious bodily injury under California Penal Code §243(d), former WWE star and Harvard-educated lawyer David Otunga broke down what the punishment could look like. Speaking on YouTube, Otunga explained that the law defines the crime as the “unlawful use of force or violence upon another person,” which in this case was clear, given the viral video of Raja Jackson’s brutal attack on Syko Stu. He noted, “Battery is satisfied,” since the footage showed Raja landing over 20 punches on an unconscious Stu.

Otunga went on to highlight the “serious bodily injury” aspect of the charge, which is necessary for it to qualify under the law. He explained that significant injuries such as broken bones, loss of consciousness, disfigurement, or a concussion all fall under this category. “We know from the video that Syko Stu lost consciousness from the slam before Raja even started punching,” he said. Importantly, Otunga emphasized that once Stu lost consciousness, he could no longer give any form of consent, whether in a pro wrestling context or otherwise. “His consent went out the window the moment his consciousness did.”

He then clarified that this charge is considered a “wobbler” offense in California, meaning it can be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the severity of the case and the defendant’s record. And for a misdemeanor, the penalty could include up to one year in county jail and a $1,000 fine.

But in Raja Jackson’s case, the situation is more serious. “We know he’s charged with a felony,” Otunga said, pointing out that the potential punishment would be much harsher. “If Raja Jackson were to be convicted of battery causing serious bodily injury, he could face up to a maximum of four years in prison and or a $10,000 fine,” he stated. If convicted, the 25-year-old could face the maximum penalty, making this incident far more than just an out-of-hand moment at a wrestling event. Even though fans are relieved to see Syko Stu finally getting justice, many spent 26 days asking: Why hasn’t Raja been arrested yet? And the answer is finally here.

Lawyer reveals why LAPD took 26 days to arrest Jackson Jr.

In the same video video, David Otunga addressed the legal chaos surrounding Raja Jackson’s arrest. “After 26 days, Raja Jackson has finally been arrested,” Otunga said. “Wow, 26 days. My question is, what took law enforcement so long to finally arrest Raja? I can only imagine they were caught up over the wrestling definitions, trying to figure out what’s a work versus what’s a shoot, what was planned, what wasn’t, what went too far.”

Otunga explained that in pro wrestling, the line between scripted drama and real violence is often razor-thin. However, in this case, the attack on Army veteran Syko Stu went well beyond performance and was clearly a real assault. The violent outburst not only injured Stu but also sparked backlash against the streaming platform and wrestling academy KnockX, which faced heavy criticism for failing to prevent the incident.

Stu suffered multiple fractures, including a broken orbital bone, and the fallout quickly spread. Douglas Malo, the wrestler who first stepped in to stop Raja Jackson, publicly blasted the WWE-affiliated promotion for its lack of response. “They should have known from that first slam that this was not a show. This had already moved on from being a show, and somehow that individual was allowed to land twenty-three punches before Doug here was able to intervene. Not one f—ing person did anything,” he said.

While other wrestlers eventually joined in to help, the delayed intervention only fueled the outrage. That said, do you think Raja Jackson should be jailed for a longer period of time? Or should he be banned from fighting altogether?