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WWE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO CUT TIES WITH KNOKX PRO

The vast majority of the attention over the Raja Jackson incident over the weekend has been on the fact that Jackson, the son of MMA legend Rampage Jackson took advantage of independent wrestler Stewart Smith aka Syko Stu, who is said to still be hospitalized, described as in critical care but stable condition by his brother online.

Whether Jackson is charged criminally or not remains to be seen.  While the entire situation is disgusting and frightening, among the worst things one can imagine happening in professional wrestling in 2025, wrestling is such a strange world that even what easily is pretty easily verifiable watching the footage that questions about what was real and what was a show and whether it was truly an assault when something was planned could easily confuse and obscure an investigation, much less a criminal prosecution and trial.  So, we will see what comes of the LAPD's investigation.

One thing that is obvious is that, in my opinion, WWE has to cut ties with Knokx Pro as a WWE ID affiliated promotion.

The entire point of WWE ID is not just to groom and build talents in the WWE system, but to have potential talents pointed to schools that are accredited by WWE so that these talents can learn, train and perform on their way to getting inside the WWE Performance Center and into the official WWE infrastructure.

If you love professional wrestling like I do, chances are you've been to an independent show that has a low level of production, talent and presentation.  That's not a knock, because there are lots of little groups that fill the need of running small venues in tiny towns and making fans in those areas happy.  Not everyone has to have a Tony Khan budget to run an independent promotion, nor should anyone expect what WWE and AEW puts together on a small scale.   This isn't a knock on independent promotions in general, but let's be honest, there's tons of them that see all sorts of shenanigans happen because by the nature of what indy wrestling is, it's a fly by night deal that is populated by as many dreamers and newbies as there are grizzled veterans or polished businessmen.   

However, the second KNOKX Pro accepted the invitation of a WWE ID affiliation and began promoting themselves as a WWE accredited promotion and academy, no matter what their budget level or talent level was, there's an expectation of how the promotion should present itself.

By all accounts, there was a complete meltdown of infrastructure, including, but not limited to:

*Allowing Raja Jackson to be involved just days after he publicly revealed he had suffered a concussion while training in MMA, something that never should have happened.  Whether Knokx Pro was aware or not remains to be revealed, but Jackson came to the event at the invitation of indy wrestler AJ Mana, who was his friend.  The second Knokx decided to include Jackson in the show, despite his concussion, it opens up the question of whether they would allow their regular talents to perform despite a concussion.  One would hope not, but it's a question that has now been raised.  Since Knokx Pro has the WWE ID affiliation, there has to be a stronger spotlight on the promotion vs. your average independent.  Since they are connected to WWE, there's an expectation of stringent professionalism that likely was not met here.

*Allowing Stewart Smith smashing a beer can against Jackson's head without any apparent permission from Jackson to do some sort of angle on Jackson's KICK stream.  While there's no argument to anyone watching the video that Smith was the victim of the assault in the ring, why was he openly drinking before the show, something that if he was a WWE talent, would be a violation of their Wellness Policy?  The answer is - it's independent wrestling.  That is true, but Knokx is supposed to be something above that, since it has the WWE ID affiliation.  Whatever that expectation of professionalism might be, one could argue it was not met here.  Yes, Smith is on video apologizing and everyone shakes hands and seems to be good with each other, but even if Smith was ribbing Jackson (which happens all the time in locker rooms, for sure), Jackson was a guest in their locker room and had no idea what was happening, hence the anger that started to fester all night.  Smith did not deserve what happened to him, but what happened outside before the show opens up questions about what is allowed in the locker room, fair or not.  Lots of things go on in locker rooms across the country, but very few of those locker rooms have a WWE affiliation.

*There is video footage of AJ Mana telling Jackson that he can get a receipt on Smith and that Jackson "knows" what a receipt it.  There's footage of Jackson telling his live KICK stream that he was going to throw down for real.  Even if Mana had no idea what Jackson was thinking or saying, the idea that Knokx Pro, via Mana, allowed a non-wrestler with no training to get in the ring to do spots during a live show before paying fans?  Someone from the promotion gave Jackson the cue to hit the ring, so this was not a case of Mana setting something up without others being aware, either.  Again, the expectation of professionalism due to the WWE ID affiliation is not met here. 

*The footage speaks for itself.  Once Jackson knocks out Smith and attempts to connect with TWENTY TWO PUNCHES (I counted), the promotion is ill-equipped to stop Jackson or assist Smith in the moment.  The referee stood there, completely useless, selling everything as if it was a work.  The first wrestler to hit the ring attempts to pull Jackson back, but is powerless to prevent him from continuing to rain down with punches.  Had it not been for wrestler Doug Drago hitting the ring and manhandling Jackson - who attempted to then fight him, leading to Drago busting himself open with a legitimate headbutt to Jackson.  Without Drago, who likely saved Smith's life and absolutely saved him from certain brain damage, who knows how much more tragic this could have been. Could the referee or anyone else perform CPR if needed?  What would have happened if someone on this show landed on their head and was KO'd?   

Again, in the moment, whatever level of professionalism that should have been expected was out the window.  

*Even worse, with Smith obviously knocked out and in an emergency situation where he needed medical assistance, someone decided the best course of action was to cover him so the referee could make the three count, even though Smith was obviously convulsing and bleeding.  Like, seriously, WHAT THE FUCK?  Even if the greatest care was taken, there was no way for anyone to know if Smith was paralyzed or worse.  The only way Smith should have been touched by anyone at that point after Jackson was removed from the ring was by medical professionals.  We all love professional wrestling and many of us lived through an era where talents always finished the match because the show must go on, but seriously, WWE stops matches all the time if there's an injury scare.  For a WWE ID affiliated company to not do that, well, that alone, in my opinion, should disqualify them from having that affiliation.

Raja Jackson was in the wrong, absolutely, but there's a lot of others who have to shoulder the responsibility for allowing the scenario to take place and then when things went horribly wrong, Knokx Pro apparently had no real-time strategy to support themselves as the worst possible scenario unfolds before their eyes.  Seriously, what if Doug Drago wasn't booked on this show or wasn't in a place where he could save Smith?  We'd be writing about a death in the ring - and not because of some horrible accident - but because Knokx Pro allowed a concussed man to be struck in their locker room (even playfully) and then invited him to seek a receipt in the ring in front of their paying fans on Jackson's live stream.

There are tons of great wrestling schools and promotions that could have been included in the WWE ID program, but only a select few were named.  With the blessing of being spotlighted comes with the responsibility of living up to not just the reputation that comes with the WWE ID relationship but in making sure that the talents they are prepping for WWE are brought up in an environment that is as close as possible to what WWE wants for their trainees.  This obviously did not happen this past weekend.

WWE, under a previous ownership regime, removed Jim Cornette from their developmental system for how he screamed at and slapped Santino Marella.  They shut down Deep South Wrestling over concerns about how the promotion was treating talents and was being operated.  They have investigated when there were accusations against Bill DeMott (who later chose to resign).  None of those situations led to a talent beaten to a pulp in the ring to the point he was hospitalized.  Yes, this is a new company and new management but WWE cannot endorse a promotion/school as their affiliate and then ignore something this heinous (Knokx Pro's own words) taking place. 

WWE has no choice but to cut ties with Knokx Pro and then reinforce what is required to their other affiliates.  If those outlets cannot live up to WWE's expectations, there's lot of others who will be happy to step up and do so.

Knokx Pro cannot operate as if it's a fly by night independent and then retain the WWE ID affiliation.  With all due respect to everything they have accomplished and everyone they have trained in the past, whatever failsafes that should have been in place this past weekend obviously were not in existence.  Certainly, this was the worst moment in the history of the company and I'd like to believe that no one involved in the promotion wanted anything of this nature to happen.  Unfortunately, it did and you can't go back in time and now, there has to be responsibility taken, so that nothing like this ever happens again under any promotion affiliated with WWE.

WWE has no choice here.  If they don't take action, the messaging would be that any promotion under their affiliation can get away with whatever the hell happens - and if anarchy rules, then what's the point of what having any affiliation at all?

"First and foremost our thoughts and prayers are with our brother Mr. Stuart Smith (Syko Stu) as he remains a priority and we are monitoring his well being.  What was supposed to be a planned and agreed upon wrestling spot, turned into a selfish, irresponsible act of violence against Mr. Smith. This egregious act is reprehensible and never should have occurred.  In the 17 years of operation of KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy, there has never been anything as heinous take place such as this and we apologize to our patrons and fans." - Knokx Pro Statement.

WWE's Rusev is right.  There are no excuses. 

Knokx Pro themselves admitted it never should have occurred, but it did.  In their house.  Helped along by their own decisions.  Now, there needs to be responsibility.  

Mike Johnson can be reached at MikeJohnsonPWInsider@gmail.com.

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