WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry has firmly rejected any future involvement in Power Slap, agreeing with critics that the sport is dangerous and a direct path to head trauma. This topic came up during a recent TMZ interview following Jake Hager’s six-fight contract signing, with Henry saying it’s “asking for a concussion,” and noting that allowing someone to hit you isn’t a test of a person’s fighting ability.
“I‘m not a fan of the Power Slap. It’s just asking for a concussion. We live enough of an aggressive existence to not put yourselves in harm’s way. If somebody tells me, ‘Hey man, that’s hot, don’t touch it,’ I’m not touching it. I don’t have to feel, smell my own flesh sizzle for me to get the message. If you let somebody hit you, then do you really get the true measure of the man? I’m not letting nobody do me wrong. I’m just not gonna do it. You have to sneak up on me.” – Mark Henry
Slap fighting originated from informal toughness contests among strongmen in Siberia and Eastern Europe, where open-hand slaps replaced punches to settle disputes. These challenges later became sideshow attractions at strongman events in the early 2000s, and from there, viral videos exploded in popularity between 2017 and 2019, catching the world’s attention and leading Dana White to launch Power Slap in 2022. And while White has tuned the underground spectacle into a professional sport with weight classes and medical oversight, many feel the risk of long-term harm isn’t worth the financial reward.
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