The Untold Story Of AJ Mana: Fired, Blackballed, And The Backstage Drama That Ended His Career

The independent wrestling scene is no stranger to controversy, but few stories have generated the level of shock and professional fallout as the one involving wrestler AJ Mana. As of December 10, 2025, the name AJ Mana, whose real name is Andre Hudson, remains synonymous with a viral, non-work incident that occurred at a KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy event, effectively leading to his professional blackballing and a self-imposed hiatus from the sport. This deep dive explores the man behind the ring name, the specific details of the infamous event, and his current, uncertain status in the world of professional wrestling.

The details surrounding the "Raja Jackson Incident" are complex and have been the subject of extensive debate, with Mana offering his own side of the story in a lengthy interview following the events. The controversy centered on a real, unsanctioned assault on fellow independent wrestler Syko Stu (Stuart Smith) that Mana was accused of instigating. His involvement led to immediate professional repercussions, including being cut from his promotion and facing intense public scrutiny, raising profound questions about the boundaries between wrestling storylines and real-life violence.

AJ Mana (Andre Hudson) Complete Biography and Career Profile

AJ Mana, known outside the ring as Andre Hudson, was a fixture on the Southern California independent wrestling circuit before the 2023 controversy brought his career to a sudden halt. While specific personal statistics like his exact age, height, and weight are not widely publicized, his wrestling persona was known for his appearances in various regional promotions, establishing him as a dedicated, albeit polarizing, figure in the local scene.

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Key Biographical Details:

• Ring Name: AJ Mana
• Real Name: Andre Hudson
• Primary Promotions: Best of the West Wrestling (BOTW), KnokX Pro Wrestling (Former)
• Wrestling Status (as of late 2025): Inactive / Self-imposed Hiatus
• Known Role: Wrestler, sometimes acting as an instigator or manager figure.
• Titles/Championships: Specific championship wins on the independent circuit are not prominently documented in major news reports, suggesting a career built on regional bookings and individual matches rather than major title reigns.
• Signature Moves: Not publicly documented in major reports.

Mana's career was primarily focused on the smaller, regional promotions that serve as the backbone of the wrestling industry, giving him a reputation as a hard worker in the independent circuit. His work was often characterized by a gritty, heel-like persona that played well with local audiences. This persona, however, would become the central defense for his actions during the incident that would ultimately overshadow his in-ring career.

The Raja Jackson/Syko Stu Incident: A Timeline of Controversy

The event that led to AJ Mana’s professional fallout is widely referred to as the Raja Jackson Incident or the Syko Stu Assault. The controversy stems from a non-scripted, violent altercation that took place at a KnokX Pro Wrestling event, which was unfortunately streamed live, capturing the entire event and its instigation on video. The incident quickly went viral, drawing condemnation from the wrestling community and fans alike.

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The Pre-Show Altercation: The "Work" That Wasn't

The trouble began outside the venue. According to reports and Mana's own subsequent statements, the independent wrestler Syko Stu (Stuart Smith) confronted Raja Jackson and allegedly smashed a beer can over Jackson's head. Syko Stu believed this initial confrontation was a pre-planned "work"—a scripted part of a wrestling storyline designed to generate heat. However, Jackson reportedly did not view it as a work, and the line between kayfabe and reality was irrevocably blurred.

AJ Mana's Role: The Instigator

AJ Mana, who had invited Raja Jackson to the KnokX Pro event, was present during the fallout. The critical piece of evidence that drew Mana into the center of the storm was a video clip from Jackson's Kick stream. In the footage, Mana was clearly seen and heard encouraging Jackson to retaliate against Stu, urging him to "give Stu a receipt" for the earlier confrontation.

This encouragement directly preceded Raja Jackson’s subsequent, unsanctioned, and violent attack on Syko Stu inside the ring, which was a legitimate assault, not a wrestling work. The attack left Syko Stu injured and led to a police investigation.

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The "In Character" Defense and Public Outcry

Following the massive public backlash, AJ Mana issued a statement and participated in a lengthy podcast appearance to share his side of the story. His primary defense was that his actions—his encouragement for Jackson to attack Stu—were done "in character." He argued that he was operating under the guise of his wrestling persona, attempting to continue a storyline.

However, the defense was widely rejected by fans and professionals who argued that encouraging a real-life, non-work assault crossed a serious ethical and legal line. The consensus was that regardless of his intent, his actions contributed to a dangerous and unprofessional environment. The incident highlighted the dangers when the lines between wrestling's scripted drama (kayfabe) and real-life actions are completely erased.

The Fallout: Firing, Hiatus, and Current Status in Late 2025

The professional consequences for AJ Mana were swift and severe, immediately impacting his standing in the independent wrestling circuit and his personal life. The fallout from the Raja Jackson/Syko Stu incident has defined his career status in the years that followed.

Cut from KnokX Pro and Loss of Employment

The immediate consequence was his removal from the KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy. The promotion quickly distanced itself from Mana due to his perceived role in instigating the violence.

Furthermore, initial reports indicated that AJ Mana was also fired from his unrelated, non-wrestling day job as a direct result of the incident and the negative publicity it generated. While Mana later walked back the claim that he was explicitly fired from his day job, the damage to his reputation was undeniable, causing significant personal and professional strain.

Stepping Away from Wrestling

As of late 2025, AJ Mana's career remains in a state of indefinite suspension. Following the intense backlash, Mana made a public statement indicating that he had "stepped away from the wrestling world" entirely. His decision was based on "personal growing safety concerns and social concerns in terms of my reputation."

This self-imposed hiatus suggests that the damage to his professional standing was so severe that a return to any major or even regional independent promotion would be practically impossible without a significant period of time passing. The wrestling community, including promoters and other wrestlers, has largely blackballed him due to the severity of the incident and the potential legal and reputational risk of working with him.

While the independent circuit is known for second chances, the nature of the Raja Jackson/Syko Stu assault—being a real, caught-on-video instigation of violence—makes AJ Mana's path back into the ring highly improbable. His story serves as a stark warning about the consequences of blurring the lines between a wrestling persona and real-life accountability, solidifying his status as one of the most controversial figures to emerge from the independent scene in recent years.