Wrestler who stopped Rampage Jackson's son attacking Syko Stu reveals what really happened
The wrestler who stopped Rampage Jackson's son from escalating his shocking attack on Syko Stu has explained exactly what happened as he slammed the other person who he blames for the incident.
Raja Jackson, son of the former UFC star, hospitalised independent wrestling star Stuart Smith and left him with severe facial injuries following a violent and unplanned assault on livestream during Knokx Pro Wrestling's show in Los Angeles, California.
Jackson had an earlier altercation with Stuart Smith backstage when he smashed a can of beer on side of his head - only to apologise when he realised the MMA fighter was not a wrestler.
Though the apology was accepted, it was decided that the square-off would result in an angle - with Jackson set to enter the ring and interfere in a tag team match Stu was competing in.
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However, he appeared to off script completely and after running in from ringside, slammed Smith to the canvas before punching him more than 20 times as he lay motionless.
Jackson was escorted away from the venue and reports say police are now investigating the incident, which was seen in full throttle on stream.
Douglas Malo was one of the wrestlers who ran in to pull Jackson off Smith and he ended up in a physical situation with the MMA fighter.
On a new episode of the Scaling Up Podcast addressing the incident, Malo gave his version of events and was critical of his fellow wrestlers for not doing more.
"I got a whisper that something's not right and I might be needed to check a scenario and whether this guy is going to do a spot," he explained.
"I'm stuck waiting for this cue. I go to someone with a radio, 'Talk to the guys in the back when do you guys want me to go?'. I was informed about the beer can incident and shortly before that they told me they had made up, shook hands and hugged it out multiple times. It was going to be fine but they just wanted to make sure.
"I talked to the person up front with the radio and walked back to the ring. I see the slam, I see the first punch and the second punch. I kind of wish I would have just sprung on the slam.
"You watch somebody you care about, he's a veteran and these are people who are supposed to love him and I'm the only one on the outskirts to be told to watch this apparently.
"I'm in there and trying to tell the guy to calm down and he's trying to fight me. It's all f****ed.
"I'm not even fighting or being hostile and then you f***ing punch me in the f***ing eye after we're breaking it up. That's why I punched you and you're lucky I was tired from the match. What kind of f***ing person are you, you low-life clown?
"You want clout so you beat up a guy that's half unconscious."
Wrestler names who he blames for Raja's attack
Though Malo was furious with Raja for the violence he displayed and the fact he showed little remorse afterwards when continuing his stream, he attached a huge amount of blame to his fellow wrestler AJ Mana after he brought him to the show and urged him to give Stu a "f***ing receipt" and exact revenge for their earlier disagreement.
Malo believes that Mana had Raja do his "dirty work" as he has had issues with Stu and stated that he has "ruined two people's lives".
He added: "I think the premeditation side comes on the part of AJ Mana. You brought somebody that was volatile, that you knew had issues.
"I think the culmination of his dad picking on him and his daddy issues came out at once and all the s*** that AJ gassed up in his head.
"I think Raja's a s*** person for what he did but I think AJ's a bigger s*** person for gassing him up to be in that ring and leading him to ruin his own f***ing life and hurting somebody that AJ also has a problem with. I don't believe in coincidence.
"You got somebody that's a real fighter that was trained by somebody who was one of the greatest of all time and then you had him do your dirty work. He ruined two people's lives."
Malo confirmed that as seen in a social media clip, Stu was still pinned in the match after the horrific ordeal as he called out those who "call him family" for not intervening.
He also said he will no long compete for Knokx Pro Wrestling, who looked to have lost their association with WWE as a result.
He finished by challenging former UFC light heavyweight champion Jackson to a fight with money on the line.
Malo said: "Hey Rampage you're getting sued all over the place because you piggyback your son's f***ing life. Why don't we just have a boxing fight? You'll probably whoop my ass and I don't give a f***. You raise money for your son's legal defence and I'll raise my money for Stu."
Stu's brother Andrew Smith, shared an update with a picture of him resting in his hospital bed and stating that he "does have some recollection of the events".
On behalf of Stu, he said, "Thank you for the love and support" and informed fans about a GoFund Me for the former US army veteran, which has surpassed more than $60,000 to go towards medical expenses, recovery support and loss of income.
Josh Lawless