Power Slap fighter Jake Hager undergoes second surgery for severe eye injury
The contestant suffered a detached retina after a blow to the eye, which organizers called 'the worst injury in Power Slap or UFC ever.'
Power Slap contestant Jake Hager required a second surgery to repair a detached retina, a month after sustaining a severe eye injury during a bout.
Hager was struck in the eye during a mid-September match against Johnny Magna, an incident that caused blood to weep from his eye and necessitated immediate medical attention and initial surgery. Following up on his recovery, Hager's fiancée, Patricia Blackburn, revealed on October 23 that a subsequent surgery was performed to address the detached retina.
Doctors identified the retinal damage as the blood in Hager's eye began to clear, allowing for a more precise diagnosis. Hager has been attending regular follow-up appointments, with reports indicating the latest operation proceeded better than anticipated.
"As the blood in Jake Hager's eye began to clear, doctors discovered in his weekly follow-up that his retina was detached," stated a report from Slap News. "He underwent urgent surgery to reattach it, which doctors said went better than expected."
Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer reported that Hager had begun to regain some sight in the eye earlier this month, though further procedures may still be necessary.
Regarding his potential return to competition, Blackburn indicated that any decision would hinge on Hager's recovery progress and medical advice. "The expectation of him returning to compete, that decision is going to be based on his recovery and what the doctors say."
Following the injury, Hager, a former competitor in WWE and AEW, immediately signaled to the referee that he had been hit directly in the eye. Broadcast footage showed streams of blood and tears emanating from his eye, leading ringside doctors to stop the match.
Power Slap executive Dana White described the injury as "probably the worst injury in Power Slap or UFC ever." Doctors reportedly believe Hager's tear duct ruptured from the impact, an injury type they had not previously encountered. White opted to instruct the production team not to replay the specific impact on the broadcast.
