WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry has offered his perspective on the disturbing brawl involving Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s son, Raja Jackson, and veteran indy wrestler Stuart “Syko Stu” Smith.
Speaking to TMZ Sports, Henry argued that while Raja Jackson went overboard during the altercation at KnokX Pro’s Los Angeles show, Stu himself carries part of the blame for how things spiraled.
Henry pointed to reports that, before the event officially began, Stu smashed a beer can over Raja’s head and exchanged words with him. In Henry’s eyes, that was a reckless move for someone with years of experience in the business.
“As a veteran, you’ve got to think about the message you’re sending,” Henry said. “You don’t rile up a kid who’s brand new to the business like that. You’ve got to be careful who you mess with, and what kind of example you’re setting.”
Later that evening, Raja was scripted to confront Stu in the ring. But when he got his moment of “payback,” things went far beyond the usual wrestling spectacle. Raja not only knocked Stu unconscious, but also unloaded a barrage of punches while the downed wrestler lay defenseless.
Henry condemned the lack of restraint on Raja’s part, stressing that he should have shown more respect for the craft by keeping his emotions in check. Still, Henry maintained the initial spark that lit the fire was Stu’s decision to provoke the younger Jackson.
The former World’s Strongest Man went so far as to suggest that alcohol may have contributed to poor judgment backstage. “If what I saw is true – people drinking, partying before the show, partially intoxicated – and then somebody smashes a bottle over a guy’s head thinking nothing’s going to happen… yeah, you’re at fault,” Henry remarked.
Stu was hospitalized following the incident but, according to his brother, is conscious and resting. Police have confirmed that a report was filed, and detectives are currently investigating the matter.
For Henry, the takeaway is simple: both men made mistakes, but the veteran should never have created a situation where a rookie could snap so violently. Or as Henry bluntly put it: “Stu bit off more than he could chew.”
