Jake Hager is reportedly beginning to regain some sight in his left eye following the severe injury he suffered during a Power Slap contest last month, but his recovery may not be complete. The former WWE and AEW performer could require additional surgery after undergoing an emergency procedure in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
Hager was injured at Power Slap 23 in Lubbock, Texas, during a bout with independent wrestler Johnny Magna. The injury occurred in the second round of the slap-fighting contest, when Magna connected with a particularly damaging shot. Hager’s left eye began bleeding after the strike, creating an alarming scene and bringing the contest to an abrupt conclusion.
At the time, Hager and those with him argued that the contact should have been ruled a foul. Officials instead stopped the contest and awarded Magna the victory by referee stoppage. The loss was ultimately secondary to the seriousness of Hager’s injury, which was later described as a ruptured eyeball.
In an update on Hager’s health, it was reported that he is now starting to get some vision back in the affected eye. However, the situation remains serious, and more operations could be needed as he continues the recovery process.
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“After getting his left eye badly damaged in a slap fight event, Jake Hager, who suffered a ruptured eyeball, is beginning to get some sight back in the eye. He may need more surgeries. He had emergency surgery after the slap.”
The update offers an encouraging sign after what had been a highly concerning injury, particularly given the limited public information available in the days after Power Slap 23. Hager’s partner, Patricia Blackburn, confirmed following the event that he had undergone surgery on the injured eye. The family elected to keep further medical specifics private, leaving uncertainty around both the extent of the damage and the timetable for his recovery.
A Serious Turn During Power Slap 23
Hager’s match with Magna was his third Power Slap appearance. Power Slap’s format centers on competitors taking turns delivering open-hand strikes, with judges and officials determining the result if a contest goes the distance. In Hager’s case, the second-round exchange against Magna turned into a medical emergency.
The visible bleeding from Hager’s eye made clear that the effects of the strike were not routine. While combat sports of all kinds carry inherent risk, the reported ruptured eyeball and need for urgent surgery underscore the gravity of what took place in Lubbock. The referee stoppage awarded Magna the win, but Hager’s condition understandably became the sole focus in the aftermath.
There is no indication yet regarding when, or if, Hager could compete again in Power Slap. The possibility of further surgeries means his immediate priority remains his health and the restoration of as much vision as possible. No return date has been announced for any athletic competition.
For Hager, the injury came after a long career built around physical performance in several disciplines. He is best known to wrestling audiences for his runs in WWE and AEW, but he has also competed in mixed martial arts and has now participated in slap fighting. That broad combat-sports background makes the severity of the present situation especially notable: even an athlete accustomed to taking impacts faced a frightening and potentially life-altering injury.
Hager’s Wrestling Background
Before entering Power Slap, Hager had already spent years as a prominent figure in professional wrestling. He rose to national prominence in WWE as the “All-American American,” a presentation that emphasized his legitimate amateur wrestling credentials. During his time with the company, Hager reached the top of the card and became WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
He later became a major part of AEW, where he continued to work at a high-profile level. Hager’s combination of size, amateur background, and experience in legitimate fighting gave him a distinct presence in the ring. His wrestling career also included an MMA run, further reinforcing an identity that has long been tied to combat competition rather than strictly one discipline.
Hager initially retired from professional wrestling in 2025. That retirement did not prove permanent, however. In June 2026, he returned to in-ring action for two World Wrestling Council events in Puerto Rico. Those appearances showed that, despite stepping away from wrestling the previous year, he was still willing and able to return to a ring setting when the opportunity arose.
The recent Power Slap bout was separate from that wrestling comeback, but it continued a pattern of Hager pursuing physically demanding competition. His immediate future in any of those environments is now understandably unclear following the eye injury.
Recovery Takes Priority
The most significant part of the latest update is that Hager is reportedly regaining some sight. After a ruptured eyeball and emergency surgery, any indication of vision returning is a positive development. Still, the report that further procedures may be required makes clear that his recovery is ongoing and that his medical situation should not be treated as resolved.
Eye injuries can carry consequences beyond an athlete’s competitive career, which is why the limited approach to public updates from Hager and his family is understandable. Blackburn’s earlier confirmation that surgery had taken place established the seriousness of the condition without disclosing details the family was not ready to share. The newest information provides a modest but meaningful update while preserving that privacy.
There have been no confirmed details about the type or number of potential future surgeries. There is also no public timetable for a full recovery, and it would be premature to assume that the return of some sight means Hager has been medically cleared for any type of contact sport. At present, the known facts are that emergency surgery was required, some vision is beginning to return, and more surgical treatment remains possible.
That uncertainty will naturally raise questions among fans who have followed Hager through WWE, AEW, MMA, independent wrestling, and now Power Slap. But any discussion of his next professional move is far less important than the outcome of his medical recovery. A future wrestling match, Power Slap contest, or other competition can only be considered after his eye health is properly addressed.
An Uncertain Road Ahead
Hager’s injury is a stark reminder that serious consequences can arise in any combat-based competition, including events that may be viewed differently from traditional wrestling or MMA. The result at Power Slap 23 is official: Magna won by referee stoppage after the contested second-round strike. Yet the lasting story from the matchup is Hager’s condition and the difficult medical process that followed.
For now, there is reason for cautious optimism in the report that he is beginning to see again through the damaged left eye. At the same time, the prospect of additional surgery means the road ahead remains uncertain. Hager and his family have not publicly laid out any plans for his competitive future, and there is no reason to expect an immediate decision while his treatment continues.
Hager has repeatedly reinvented himself across different forms of combat sports, from his WWE championship reign to his AEW tenure, MMA experience, Puerto Rico wrestling return, and Power Slap appearances. His latest challenge is far more personal than any match or contest result. The priority is restoring his health, protecting his vision, and allowing the recovery process to unfold without unnecessary pressure.
As of the latest update, Hager has begun to regain some sight after the emergency operation that followed Power Slap 23. Whether more surgery will be necessary, how much vision can ultimately be restored, and whether he will ever return to competition remain unanswered questions. The positive early sign is important, but Hager’s recovery is clearly still in progress.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.