Jake Hager’s Power Slap 23 loss was ugly enough on its own. Now we know just how serious the damage really was, because he had to undergo surgery.
The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion had one of the roughest nights of his combat sports career at Power Slap 23 in Lubbock, Texas. Hager was left bleeding from his left eye and ear after taking a brutal slap from Johnny Magna, forcing the cageside doctor to stop the fight before medical personnel rushed in.
The night didn’t end there either. A backstage report later claimed Hager nearly became involved in an altercation with members of a college basketball team before leaving the venue. Now there’s finally an update on how he’s doing.
Patricia Blackburn, a fellow Power Slap fighter, shared with outlet Slap News that he has already undergone emergency eye surgery following the injury and thanked fans and the UFC for all the support.
“Thank you to the UFC and Power Slap family for the incredible love and support you’ve shown Jake during this difficult time. Jake is currently recovering from an emergency eye surgery. We’re taking things one day at a time and keeping the details private, but your kindness, support, and genuine concern have meant more than you know. Thank you for being there for Jake. We’re so grateful to be part of a community that shows up when it matters most.”
The statement doesn’t go into exactly what happened to Hager’s eye or how long he’ll be out, but it makes one thing pretty clear—the injury was serious enough that emergency surgery couldn’t wait. That’s a tough break for Hager, especially after he recently admitted he’d started thinking about how much punishment he could continue taking in Power Slap after suffering a previous knockout.
Right now, though, wrestling or Power Slap probably isn’t the priority. The good news is Hager is on the road to recovery, and hopefully the next update is about him healing instead of another trip to the operating room.
Join us in wishing Jake Hager a speedy recovery, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
