Last weekend, a Knokx Pro event saw Raja Jackson, the son of MMA legend Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, enter the ring and legitimately knock out a wrestler named Syko Stu.
The attack continued even while Stu was unconscious, and he was later rushed to the hospital, where he was initially in critical care. He's since regained consciousness, and a police investigation is reportedly ongoing. While Jackson's actions have been widely condemned, some have spoken out in his defence, including WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry.
He placed the blame for the incident squarely at Stu's feet, and reading a prepared statement on 1300 The Zone, Henry made it clear that he's offering "zero apologies," despite the continued backlash to his remarks.
"What I said has nothing to do with race," he stated. "It has everything to do with ignorance about the wrestling business. First off, it’s impossible for me to be a racist, because I would have to have power over someone, and in a bigoted way, I’m not a bigot, and I don’t have power over people. The people that know me know who I am as a man and as a person."
Addressing the social media frenzy surrounding his remarks, Henry called his detractors "ignorant people that sit back behind their computers and they feel like it’s okay to verbally bash people." He added, "What it is is bullying. It’s just like the situation of Raja going to wrestling to try to be a wrestler, and not being completely informed on what wrestling is."
Addressing the attack itself, Henry said, "Syko Stu didn’t deserve what he got, but every action has a reaction, and there’s consequences for everything that you put out in this universe."
"You got these veteran guys drinking alcohol before the show, and then they come out there, and you hit one of the kids… upside the head with a beer can," the World's Strongest Man noted. "He’s supposed to understand and process all this information. No, it’s not going to happen."
After reflecting on his own experiences in the world of professional wrestling, Henry said he has no intention of walking back his remarks and stands by what he said about what went down at this Knokx Pro event.
"I just want to go on record as saying I’m making zero apologies for what I said. I meant every word, every single word I meant," he declared. "You have to be responsible on both sides. All of you fans out there that have these racist tendencies and all the vitriol for me, have at it. You can’t hurt me. I’m bulletproof."
As a reminder, Jackson got in the ring and repeatedly punched the unconscious Stu in the head after a pre-planned slam.