Raja Jackson, the 25-year-old son of retired MMA star Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom Thursday to formally plead not guilty to multiple assault charges stemming from an altercation during a professional wrestling event. The charges include one felony count of battery with serious bodily injury and one misdemeanor count of battery.

The incident took place in August at a KnokX professional wrestling show, where Jackson was scheduled to participate in a scripted match. According to court records and video evidence, Raja Jackson slammed fellow performer Stuart Smith—known in the wrestling world as Syko Stu—to the ground and continued striking him even after he appeared unconscious. The attack resulted in severe injuries, including a lacerated lip, broken teeth, jaw trauma, and a serious head injury. Smith spent several days in intensive care and was released on August 31.

Before the match, Jackson posted a livestream to his social media suggesting he intended to retaliate against Smith over a prior confrontation in which Smith had allegedly struck him with a beer can as a promotional stunt. Authorities maintain that Jackson's actions went far beyond the bounds of the scripted performance, which is why felony charges were filed.

Raja Jackson now faces up to four years in state prison for the felony count. The Los Angeles District Attorney's office is pursuing sentencing enhancements that could increase the total potential sentence to seven years. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 24, where legal proceedings will continue.

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, a former UFC light heavyweight champion and Bellator fighter, has publicly criticized his son's actions, calling them "unacceptable" and insisting that Raja must face the consequences. Rampage has urged that his son complete jail time, community service, and anger management courses to address his behavior.

The case has drawn attention across both MMA and professional wrestling communities, with fans and media commentators debating the boundaries of staged performance versus real-life violence. Experts in combat sports law have noted that while professional wrestling often involves choreographed hits, intentional harm outside the agreed script can constitute criminal behavior, as prosecutors allege in this case.

Raja Jackson's plea does not resolve the matter, and the upcoming court hearings will determine whether he will face prison time, probation, or alternative sentencing. Meanwhile, the incident has sparked renewed discussion about safety protocols at independent wrestling events and the responsibilities of performers to follow the rules of engagement—even when emotions run high.