Jake Hager is not hiding from the reaction to his latest Power Slap loss.
The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion was knocked out by Amanpreet Singh, better known to wrestling fans as former TNA star Mahabali Shera, during their July 10 showdown. The bout was the second appearance in Hager’s six-event deal with Power Slap.
Hager nearly ended the fight in the opening round after landing a massive slap that dropped Shera to one knee. Shera recovered, stayed in the contest and fired back in the third round with the shot that knocked Hager out.
The knockout quickly spread online, but Hager told Busted Open that he was not offended by the comments or jokes being made at his expense. He knew from the start that Power Slap came with a simple risk: knock someone out or end up getting knocked out yourself.
“Not at all. I knew ahead of this, going into this, that it was knockout or get knocked out, and that getting knocked out was going to generate just as much as getting a knockout.”
Hager admitted the result was not what he wanted, but he also understands that his name brings extra attention to the sport. Rather than run from that attention after a loss, he plans to use it to his advantage.
“Now, of course, that’s not the result I wanted, but still, when you have a name like mine and you’re going into a sport like Power Slap, it is an advantage, and I will use it.”
The loss came after Hager won his Power Slap debut during WrestleMania 42 weekend. That victory gave him a strong start, but Shera made sure his second appearance ended with Hager flat on the floor.
Hager has mostly stepped away from wrestling since leaving AEW in 2024, though he returned to the ring in June for World Wrestling Council’s Anniversary events in Puerto Rico. Those matches marked his first wrestling appearances since 2024.
Hager may have been knocked out, but he is not backing away from Power Slap or pretending the online reaction bothers him. With four appearances still remaining on his deal, he will have more chances to erase the loss and turn the attention back in his favor.
What did you think about Jake Hager’s response to the knockout loss, and should he continue competing in Power Slap? Leave your feedback in the comments.
