Credit: WWE.com
WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam (RVD) recently addressed the heated backlash following his comments about the violent episode involving MMA fighter Raja Jackson and independent wrestler Syko Stu Smith. While Van Dam initially posted on social media that he “got Raja’s back,” many fans and wrestling insiders misunderstood this as support for the attack, which hospitalized Syko Stu with serious facial injuries. Through a detailed explanation on his “1 Of A Kind” podcast, Van Dam sought to clarify his stance, emphasizing concern for the injured wrestler while providing context behind Raja Jackson’s actions.
The Raja Jackson and Syko Stu Incident: Context and Fallout
Over the weekend, Raja Jackson, son of MMA legend Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, unleashed a brutal attack on Syko Stu during a KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy event. Viral video footage showed Raja bodyslamming Syko Stu inside the ring before landing multiple punches on the unconscious wrestler, an act that left Stu with broken facial bones and hospitalized in critical condition. The incident stirred widespread condemnation within the wrestling community, even reportedly causing KnokX to lose its WWE ID affiliation.
Rob Van Dam’s initial social media post, stating “So far, I got Raja’s back,” sparked outrage, with many interpreting it as siding against Syko Stu. This led to intense criticism of RVD, prompting him to publicly clarify the meaning behind his comment on his widely followed podcast.
Rob Van Dam’s Clarification: Sympathy and Understanding Without Condoning Violence
On his “1 Of A Kind” podcast, Van Dam began by extending his well-wishes to Syko Stu: “Best wishes to f***ing Syko Stu Smith. Hopefully, he will regain his health and do it quickly. That’s a shame and he definitely didn’t deserve what happened to him”.
RVD then addressed accusations of hypocrisy for seemingly supporting Raja Jackson while sympathizing with Stu:
“If you thought that me saying that was somehow hypocritical because my text said that ‘I back Raja,’ then you are one of the basic thinkers that can’t understand how those can both be true in the same universe,” he explained.
Van Dam stressed that his support was not about endorsing the attack but trying to understand what led Raja Jackson to act the way he did. According to RVD, Jackson was “used as a tool” and manipulated into the assault, being pushed into a situation he perhaps should never have been part of, especially given his MMA background.
Breaking Down the Incident from RVD’s Perspective
Van Dam elaborated that Raja Jackson’s violent response was somewhat predictable, given the circumstances:
“I would’ve likely retaliated if I got hit with a can at an indie show, no explanation,” RVD said. He highlighted that public reaction had quickly escalated to demanding that Raja be severely punished, stating, “Everyone is saying that he needs to be put to death and I’m saying if Raja’s position needs somebody to explain what happened, then I got his back as far as that goes.” However, he was careful to clarify that this did not mean Raja Jackson was the “babyface” or the innocent party. Instead, Van Dam acknowledged the complexity of the scenario without outright absolving Raja.
Sources close to the wrestling business revealed that Van Dam’s perspective stems from his years of experience dealing with volatile situations in wrestling, where emotions run high and incidents sometimes spiral unexpectedly. According to a WWE insider, “Rob understands the physicality and the mental pressures wrestlers face. His comments seem rooted in trying to unpack the layers of why this happened, not in defending violence”.
Industry and Fan Reactions to RVD’s Comments
While some fans have accepted Van Dam’s nuanced explanation, others remain critical, viewing his comments as insensitive given the severity of the attack. The wrestling community continues to debate the proper response to Raja Jackson’s actions and what accountability should look like.
KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy’s relationship with WWE reportedly suffered due to the incident’s fallout, highlighting the broader impact of the attack on the indie scene’s relationship with larger organizations.
Meanwhile, various wrestlers and commentators have condemned Raja’s actions unequivocally, insisting that such behavior should have no place in wrestling or MMA events. The incident has ignited conversations on safety, the role of MMA fighters in wrestling environments, and appropriate conflict resolution protocols.