Mark Henry stands by his stance on the Syko Stu case despite criticism

Mark Henry has responded firmly to the wave of criticism he received after his statements about the violent attack suffered by wrestler Stuart "Syko Stu" Smith. In an intervention on the radio station 1300 The Zone in Austin, the Hall of Famer read a statement reaffirming his words, stating that he does not regret anything and making it clear that he will offer "zero apologies."

Henry explained that his opinion was not meant to defend the aggressor Raja Jackson, but to point out that there were also failures on the part of the organization and the veterans present at the show. "What I said has nothing to do with race. It has to do with ignorance about the wrestling business," he stated. "It's impossible for me to be racist because I would have to have power over someone and exercise it intolerantly. I am not intolerant and I have no power over anyone. People who know me know who I am as a man and as a person."

The former champion also denounced what he considers online harassment towards his figure: "What they are doing is bullying. It's the same thing that happened with Raja, who tried to be a wrestler without being fully informed about what wrestling was." Although he emphasized that Syko Stu did not deserve the attack and showed his support for him, he stressed that "every action has a reaction, and everything you put out into the universe has consequences."

Henry criticized the sequence that led to the aggression, in which a wrestler hit Jackson on the head with a beer can. In his opinion, the veterans present also failed to protect the environment: "You had these veterans drinking alcohol before the show, and then they come out and hit a kid on the head with a beer can. Are they supposed to understand all that and process it? No, it's not going to happen."

The Hall of Famer compared the situation to his own beginnings in the business, when he felt lost and unprepared. "Mark Henry was once Raja Jackson. I was banished from wrestling and sent to Canada." He recalled that the Hart family was the one who rescued him and gave him a second chance: "If it hadn't been for the Hart family, who told me, 'Mark, you don't know about wrestling, you're a fan, let us help you,' I wouldn't have become who I am, a Hall of Fame wrestler."

Finally, Henry reiterated that he does not intend to retract his statements: "I want to make it clear that I will not apologize for what I said. I meant every word." And he sent a direct message to those calling for his cancellation: "To all those fans with racist tendencies who throw hate at me, do as you please. You can't hurt me. I am bulletproof."