Former WWE heavyweight champion tuns with knockout win in front of Dana White on Power Slap 19
Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images Jake Hager’s Power Slap debut started off WrestleMania week with a bang, as the former WWE heavyweight champion secured a brutal third-round knockout against Devin Jenkins. The undefeated ex-Bellator MMA fighter made his debut at The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. While he held the Money in the Bank briefcase, United States title, and ECW world title during his WWE career, it’s his 2010 Heavyweight championship win that stands out most.
After stepping away from MMA during the pandemic and more recently calling time on his wrestling career, the former Division 1 All-American announced earlier this year that he would be moving into Power Slap. He made his debut tonight in front of Dana White in Las Vegas. Jake Hager defeats Devin Jenkins at Power Slap 19 Photo by Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/The Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images Jake Hager had to absorb the opening slap from the more seasoned Jenkins after coming up short in the coin toss.
He took it well and, following a brief pause to recover, delivered his first shot with real force. The former WWE star’s return also included a nod to his wrestling past, as he threw in his old ‘We The People’ catchphrase before connecting with a big left hand. The slap left Jenkins unsteady on his feet and nearly sent him off the platform altogether.
Jenkins managed to stay in it and fired back with a clean strike of his own in round two. But despite landing well, he couldn’t budge Hager, who had come in at a solid 254 pounds for this matchup. This time around, he seemed better prepared for the impact.
Even so, he still looked shaky and reacted by stepping back straight after taking it. His response to Hager’s third slap was noticeably less effective compared to earlier exchanges. Then came another well-timed shot from Hager that sent Jenkins down again.