Shocking moment wrestler Jay Knox ‘saw red’ and booted trainee rival in the FACE during a match

This is the shocking moment a professional wrestler boots his opponent in the face – fracturing his skull – after ‘seeing red’ during a match.

Graphic footage shows James Riley, 33, kicking Rob Wilson’s head ‘like a football’ during a wrestling competition held in a Dorset scout hut.

Trainee wrestler Rob Wilson, 32, said his face ‘exploded’ with blood after Riley’s nasty off-script assault. 

Wilson, a sales agent by day, was left with a fractures to his face – including to his nose and eye socket.

He told a court he ‘could have been killed’ by the vicious attack, which was caught on camera by a friend of Wilson – who had wanted to show footage of the fight to his kids.

Now pro-wrestler Riley, who goes by the wrestling name ‘Jiving Jay Knox’, has been jailed for two years after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.

This is the shocking moment a professional wrestler boots his rival in the face and fracturing his skull after ‘seeing red’ during a match

Footage shows James Riley, 33, kicking Rob Wilson's (pictured in hospital) head 'like a football' during a wrestling competition in a Dorset scout hut

Wilson, 32, a sales agent by day, was left with a fractures to his face (pictured during his recovery) and said he 'could have been killed' by the vicious kick

Footage shows James Riley, 33, kicking Rob Wilson’s (pictured left in hospital) head ‘like a football’ during a wrestling competition in a Dorset scout hut. Wilson, 32, a sales agent by day, was left with a fractures to his face (pictured right during his recovery) and said he ‘could have been killed’ by the vicious kick.

A court heard that Riley, who regularly performs at British holiday camps, lost his temper during the match-up at a Scout Hut in Ferndown, Dorset, in February 2020. 

Riley later told Mr Wilson that he had accidentally aggravated a pre-existing injury when he kicked him during the match.

The infuriated instructor, who admitted he ‘lost it’, then went off-script and ran at as his opponent like a ‘goalkeeper taking a goal kick’. 

Riley then booted his victim in the face while he was on all fours, leaving his face covered in blood.

Although children in the audience were crying and fans yelled out for the contest to stop, Riley insisted they carried on for three more minutes until the end.

Mr Wilson, was helped out of the ring and collapsed in the kitchen area of the scout hut the organised wrestling match was being held at.

He was taken to hospital where it was revealed he had suffered fractured eye sockets, nose, jaw and teeth.

He had three hours of reconstructive surgery which required metal plates put in his face and his mouth was wired shut for six weeks. 

Mr Wilson’s family called the police who charged Riley with unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Riley, who owns his own wrestling company called Fightstar Ltd, pleaded guilty and was jailed for 21 months.

Riley later told Mr Wilson that he had hit a nerve when he kicked him and admitted he had lost it

Riley later told Mr Wilson that he had hit a nerve when he kicked him and admitted he had lost it

Although children in the audience were crying and fans yelled out for the contest to stop, Riley (pictured moments before the attack) insisted they carried on for three more minutes until the end

Although children in the audience were crying and fans yelled out for the contest to stop, Riley (pictured moments before the attack) insisted they carried on for three more minutes until the end

Seconds later, after getting to his feet, Riley then kicked Wilson in the face, sending him to the ground holding his face

Seconds later, after getting to his feet, Riley then kicked Wilson in the face, sending him to the ground holding his face

Afterwards Mr Wilson, a married father of two young daughters, said: ‘He could have killed me so I am 100 per cent glad he has been jailed

‘What happened to me was not a wrestling accident, it was not part of the show, it was assault.

‘He took the conscious decision to hurt me, he betrayed the trust I placed in him and he left me recognisable.’

Mr Wilson, from Poole, Dorset, had been a student under Riley and was hoping to become a part-time ‘weekend’ wrestler.

Part of the course was for students to take part in live events, or slams, in front of a live audience.

Days before the show, Riley told Mr Wilson there had been a change of plan and he would be going in the ring instead.

The fights would usually be rehearsed but because of the late notice it was agreed Riley, a wrestler with 17 years experience, would call the moves out as the fight went on.

Props such as a baking tray a chair and a bamboo cane were used and it was scripted that Riley would end up winning.

Mr Wilson asked best friend Paul Bray to record the fight from his front row seat so he could show it to his wife and children later.

The footage was later used as evidence to convict Riley of the horrific assault.

Mr Wilson, from Poole, said: ‘I had concerns going into the match but I trusted that he was going to call it and it was going to be OK. The assault was a result of his prior instruction.

‘He was down on the floor and because I was the antagonist he said to me I should stay on top of him when he was down.

‘I caught him with a kick to the gut area. He hissed at me ‘receipt’ which is terminology for payback.

‘I positioned myself on my hands and knees and I was expecting him to hit me on the back but instead he kicked me in the face as if taking a goal kick in football.’

Mr Wilson described the attack as the ‘worst pain I had experienced in my life’.

He said: ‘My face just exploded and I realised it was a lot more than a broken nose. 

‘Blood was coming out like fountain and the canvass was red. I could hear the audience yelling to stop the fight.’

His friend, Mr Bray, who filmed the incident said: ‘It was all fine then all of a sudden it wasn’t.

‘Jay was stood clear for a few seconds and then booted Rob in the face. He put everything into that kick and didn’t hold back.

‘It was obvious it wasn’t part of the act or that it was an accident.

Props such as a baking tray a chair and a bamboo cane were used and it was scripted that Riley would end up winning. Pictured: The two wrestlers before the kick

Props such as a baking tray a chair and a bamboo cane were used and it was scripted that Riley would end up winning. Pictured: The two wrestlers before the kick

Mr Wilson asked best friend Paul Bray to record the fight from his front row seat so he could show it to his wife and children later. Pictured: Wilson holds his face after the kick

Mr Wilson asked best friend Paul Bray to record the fight from his front row seat so he could show it to his wife and children later. Pictured: Wilson holds his face after the kick

‘The match went on for two or three more minutes. Everyone was just in shock. My five-year-old daughter was with me and she was crying her eyes out.’

Mr Bray said the next day at his training school Riley addressed the issue with other trainees and admitted he had kicked Mr Wilson on purpose because he had hit some nerve damage.

Mr Wilson said Riley sent him a text in which he said sorry and admitted he had acted like an animal.

The victim has since been diagnosed with PTSD which has led to him to lose his high-pressured sales job. He now works as a warehouse operative.

Edward Warren, defending Riley, told Bournemouth Crown Court his client was remorseful for his actions and had since retired from wrestling.

In jailing Riley judge Stephen Climie said: ‘During the course of the bout, which is largely a fictitious event in the sense that it is largely scripted, you suffered a significant degree of pain because of a pre-existing injury.

‘Your reaction to that was to lose your temper and effectively take revenge. That revenge was a single blow with the foot. The consequences are dramatic.

‘It is aggravated in part because you were the person in charge of this situation.

‘It was a blow by a professional wrestler, I cannot allow a suspended sentence.’

Riley, from Ferndown, was also given a 10 year restraining order preventing him from contacting the Wilson family.

Detective Constable Steve Davis, of Bournemouth CID, said: ‘James Riley subjected his victim to a violent assault that went far beyond anything that was appropriate within the parameters of the wrestling match.

‘The victim has been left with injuries that have had a significant and lasting impact.’