Mark Henry’s Take on Syko Stu Attack Sparks Outrage Across Wrestling Community
Another Hall of Famer is catching heat. Speaking to TMZ, WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry weighed in on the viral incident at KnokX Pro where Raja Jackson — son of MMA legend Quinton “Rampage” Jackson — jumped in the ring and attacked independent wrestler Syko Stu mid-match. Rather than unequivocally condemning the attack that left Stu hospitalized and many describe flatlined in the ring, Henry suggested Stu “bit off more than he can chew” and questioned veteran conduct around a younger, inexperienced outsider.
Henry framed the situation as what happens when someone “not experienced to our business” gets put in the wrong spot, arguing that education and training are essential, and implying the confrontation before the show helped set the stage for chaos. He later added that if there was drinking beforehand and Stu smashed a can over Raja’s head earlier in the day, “you’re at fault.”
Here’s the problem: none of that justifies what followed. Video and first-person accounts show Raja Jackson perform a high-impact slam (the only part previously agreed upon as part of the time), and a flurry real and near fatal punches to an unconscious man — the sort of uncontrolled, non-worked violence that every locker room is trained to prevent. Whatever the pre-show dust-up was, the in-ring escalation turned a performance environment into a medical emergency. That’s not “learning the ropes.” That’s disregarding human life. As previously reported here at Wrestling.news, Raja Jackson accepted an apology from Syko Stu and shook his hand. The brutal attack took place several hours later—for Mark Henry to defend Jackson in any form is disgusting and lacks integrity.
Henry’s comments also blur a crucial line. Wrestlers work hurt, work live crowds, and work egos — but they do not work assaults. Comparing the situation to rookie ribbing or locker-room toughness tests misses the point: once an untrained participant jumps in and throws real shots at a defenseless performer, we’re out of the “boys will be boys” territory and firmly in safety and duty-of-care.
Industry veterans have long preached a simple code: protect your opponent, protect the show, protect the audience. When that code is broken, the correct response isn’t to weigh the victim’s supposed mistakes — it’s to condemn the breach, secure medical care, cooperate with authorities, and review protocols so it never happens again.
Meanwhile, support continues to pour in for Syko Stu as he recovers from significant injuries reported in the wake of the incident. Whatever the investigation ultimately finds, the standard for pro wrestling should remain clear: no fan, friend, or outsider belongs in the ring throwing live rounds — and no ones voice should muddy that message.
Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
- Safety isn’t a gray area. If someone without proper training jumps in and starts throwing real shots, criticism shouldn’t flow toward the worker who got hurt.
- Veteran voices matter. When Hall of Famers “both-sides” a near-catastrophe, it normalizes risk and confuses younger talent about what’s acceptable.
- What should happen next: full cooperation with authorities, venue and promotion risk reviews, bans on non-talent physical participation, and clear pre-show alcohol policies.
- Bottom line: We can debate pre-show judgment calls later. In the moment, there’s only one priority — protect the worker.
Watch Mark Henry's Take Below 👇
