More than a decade ago, Dana White & Co. signed WWE star CM Punk to the UFC. Now, Dana White is making another crossover move. This time, he brings a WWE name into his $750 million venture, Power Slap. Despite criticism, the promotion continues to exceed expectations and expand rapidly. In fact, it keeps gaining recognition across the combat sports world, and now, it adds another major name to its roster.

Former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Jake Hager, known to many fans as Jack Swagger, steps into the spotlight. This time around, he prepares to deliver and absorb open-hand strikes under the Power Slap banner, shifting from the wrestling ring to a completely different combat stage.

Dana White secures WWE veteran for six-fight run in Power Slap

Recently, Hager sat down with TMZ inside the ring and explained how he secured a six-appearance deal with Dana White’s venture. Naturally, many wondered whether the UFC CEO made the call himself. However, ‘Swagger’ revealed that the opportunity came together through a familiar connection.

“I believe Sinn Bodhi is kind of the head of talent relations for Power Slap,” Jake Hager said. “Sinn is a former pro wrestler, and he still is a pro wrestler. We go back decades together, since developmental and FCW, OVW, all the Ws.

They made a shift last year where they wanted more pro wrestlers getting into it, and Sinn has done an excellent job of providing great talent for the organization. He reached out to me last year, but I wasn’t able to do it until now. Now that I’m healthy, I’m coming in running.”

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Interestingly, Jake Hager did not pursue the opportunity himself. Instead, Power Slap’s recruiter and matchmaker, talent relations head Sinn Bodhi, identified him as a powerful addition and pushed the move forward. Hager even embraced the humor surrounding his transition into slap fighting.

“I’ll be competing in that show in the heavyweight division and uh you know I’ve been told I have a very slappable face so around the corner… I mean, you know, what you sign up for, you’re signing up to get slapped and trying to slap someone back as hard as you can.”

‘Swagger’ makes his debut at the Power Slap event on April 17, and the promotion airs the card live on Friday night in Las Vegas.

So now, 43-year-old Jake Hager officially steps into one of the fastest-growing combat sports ventures under Dana White’s leadership. Of course, he acknowledges the risks that come with Power Slap, especially the concerns surrounding neurological damage.

Still, the former WWE star believes the UFC will cover “all expenses” if he suffers an injury. At the same time, Hager carries the mindset of an undefeated MMA fighter. After all, he already tested himself under the Bellator banner.

Jake Hager reflects on a potential move to UFC

Jake Hager has always called wrestling his first love. Early on, he built his foundation at the NCAA Division I All-American level, sharpening his technique, which shaped his career. That wrestling pedigree eventually opened the door to WWE, where he rose through the ranks and won the WWE Championship twice. After more than a decade in professional wrestling, ‘Swagger’ decided to challenge himself and step into mixed martial arts.

In 2017, he signed with Bellator MMA and set out to prove that his wrestling credentials could translate into genuine success inside the cage. And he did exactly that. Across four fights, Hager stayed unbeaten and showcased his grappling strength with multiple submission victories. Even after retiring from MMA, he still remained active in professional wrestling.

Recently, during an interview with TMZ inside the ring, Jake Hager once again addressed the possibility of returning to MMA or moving to the UFC and gave a clear assessment of where he stands today.

“I would love to. I don’t think my body is in the place for it anymore. I’ll be 44 this month, so I don’t think my body can handle the training. In that sport, if you’re not training with your back against the wall and giving it everything you’ve got, you’re going to go into the Octagon, you’re going to go into the cage, and you’re going to get hurt. So I would love to. I wish I had gotten into it sooner, but it just wasn’t in the cards.”

So, where do you stand on a possible Jake Hager run in Dana White’s UFC? Could he inject fresh energy into the heavyweight division, which many fans believe lacks depth right now? Let us know what you think in the comments.