To Paul Levesque and the WWE Board of Directors,

On August 23, 2025, during a live KnokX Pro Wrestling event (affiliated with WWE’s Independent Development Program and led by WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi), MMA fighter Raja Jackson violently assaulted pro wrestler Syko Stu (Stuart Smith) in what was meant to be a staged segment but devolved into genuine, brutal violence. Jackson lifted Syko Stu, slammed him, and delivered over 20 punches—many to his head—rendering him unconscious and with severe injuries to his head and face. Syko Stu, a U.S. Army veteran who wrestled to cope with PTSD, sustained serious injuries, including head trauma, jaw fractures, lacerations, lost teeth, and remains on a long road to recovery 

2. Organizational Fallout and Associations
KnokX Pro’s violent incident led WWE to be publicly linked due to their Independent Development affiliation and Rikishi’s role as head trainer. In direct response, WWE pulled WWE branding and removed KnokX Pro from its recruitment listings, indicating a severing of affiliation.

3. Rikishi’s Silence and Lack of Public Accountability
Although KnokX Pro condemned the incident as a "selfish, irresponsible act of violence", Rikishi himself has maintained a conspicuous silence—offering no public statement, acknowledgment, or expression of concern for Syko Stu or for the wrestling community’s safety and standards.

Given his stature as a WWE Hall of Famer and leader of the promotion, this absence of response is particularly troubling and reflects poorly on both his personal integrity and the honor of the Hall of Fame.

4. Grounds for Removal
By virtue of his role in KnokX Pro and his failure to address or denounce the violence—even as others associated with the incident did—Rikishi’s silence can be interpreted as tacit acceptance or indifference. This contrasts sharply with the conduct expected of someone honored in the WWE Hall of Fame, which represents prestige, leadership, and adherence to the highest standards of sportsmanship and integrity.