Former WWE wrestler and Bellator fighter turned Power Slap contestant Jake Hager (also known by his wrasslin’ name Jack Swagger) is still suffering from a scary eye injury sustained during a Power Slap event back in September.
Hager made headlines when he signed with UFC CEO Dana White’s pet project Power Slap back in April 2026, winning his first slap fight via KO in round three. His next two bouts did not go as well: he was KO’d in July, and then suffered a horrific injury at Power Slap 23 in September
that saw blood and fluid start leaking out his eye.
Hager underwent emergency eye surgery that night but is still having issues two months later according to an update from his fiance Patricia.
“It was discovered this week that Jake had a detached retina,” Instagram account Slap News reported. “He underwent surgery to reattach, which doctors have said went better than expected. Send your love and prayers to Jake and Patricia as they navigate a very sensitive and unpredictable recovery.”
“I want to thank the UFC and Power Slap for their support and assistance,” Patricia added in the comments. “I’m also deeply grateful to his medical team and everyone who has reached out, prayed, and shown Jake so much love.”
Power Slap continues to roll along despite being one of the most disgusting ‘sports’ we’ve ever witnessed. Can you really call it a sport when it’s one person standing prone while another gets a free shot at their face? While the show didn’t pull enough numbers to stay on television for more than a few weeks, owner Dana White insists it generates more views and follows than many major sports leagues and even beats out Taylor Swift.
Whether that’s true or smoke and mirrors, it seems like there’s news of a new Power Slap deal every other week, from Power Slap signing a residency deal with MGM Resorts to Power Slap piggy-backing off TKO and showing up in cities alongside UFC events. Jake Hager isn’t the first Power Slap contestant to deal with a serious injury from the event, just the best known. And we doubt he’ll be the last.
