Dana White Says Jake Hager’s Power Slap Eye Injury ‘Not Good’

Jake Hager, the former WWE star known to wrestling fans as Jack Swagger and more recently as a member of AEW’s Jericho Appreciation Society, is recovering from surgery after suffering a serious eye injury during a Power Slap bout. Hager was competing in his second outing for the slap-fighting promotion when he faced Johnny Magna at Power Slap 23, and the injury he sustained has proven significant enough that UFC and Power Slap boss Dana White has publicly weighed in with a grim update.

White described the situation surrounding Hager’s eye as ‘not good,’ signaling that the injury is more serious than initial reports may have suggested. Hager has since undergone surgery as part of his recovery process, though further specifics on his prognosis or timeline for return have not been detailed.

Hager’s pivot into competitive slap fighting has been one of the more unexpected side stories in combat sports over the past year. Best known to wrestling audiences for his lengthy WWE run as Jack Swagger — a former World Heavyweight Champion — and his subsequent AEW tenure aligned with Chris Jericho, Hager has built a reputation as a legitimate multi-discipline competitor, having also competed in Bellator MMA. His willingness to step into the Power Slap arena fits that pattern of chasing new athletic challenges outside the scripted confines of pro wrestling.

But the sport itself has drawn scrutiny since its inception, largely due to concerns about the safety of full-power slaps delivered to an opponent’s exposed face and head with no real means of defense. Power Slap has faced criticism from medical professionals and combat sports observers alike over the risk of concussions, facial trauma, and now, apparently, serious eye injuries. Dana White has aggressively promoted the format as a legitimate sport since its 2023 launch, but incidents like Hager’s are the kind that fuel ongoing debate about whether slap fighting can be made safe at a competitive level.

For wrestling fans, the injury raises immediate questions about what it means for Hager’s in-ring future. He remains a name associated with AEW, and any eye injury serious enough to require surgery is the type that can sideline an athlete for an extended stretch — or, in worst-case scenarios, threaten a career depending on the severity of the damage. Neither AEW nor Hager himself has issued a statement on how this might affect his wrestling schedule.

PW Exclusive will continue to monitor for updates on Hager’s recovery and any word on his eventual return to the ring.