Power Slap: Road to the title It’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen. The new hit TBS show airing at 10 p.m. ET is coveted on Wednesdays so bad it puts the viewer in the shoes of the participants, because you feel like I’m in shock when I watch it. As a lifelong fan of combat sports, there are no more reasons to indulge in mixed martial arts, boxing or professional wrestling. There is no offensive or defensive strategy, only one way to win with no adjustments in battle. It was just a slap, produced from the mind of Dana White, who delayed the show’s premiere by a week because slapping his wife in public Eve. (“All the criticism I’ve received… and will receive in the future, is 100 percent warranted,” said White.) Delay… one week… for public acts of domestic violence. Now have accountability. Bravo, CEO of Warner Brothers Discovery.
I somehow made it through an episode
The show is crude, boring and repetitive. And yes, somehow, I actually watched an entire episode. Slap on the cheek, repeat. And the shock lingers when unprotected blows to the head from muscular athletes somehow stun one or both opponents in any given match, or worse, completely knocked out. whole. Episodes take place from UFC Apex in Las Vegas, known for hosting the pandemic-Large-scale crowd-sourced UFC events and training facilities for the past two seasons of The Last Gladiator. Despite being in a state-of-the-art sports facility, the dangers of power slaps are clear. Just look at the tweet below from Chris Nowinskifounder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation.
The inevitable brain injury is the point
A representative for TBS declined a request for comment on the show and its safety, instead referring questions to the UFC. That institution, where White serve as the company’s presidentprovided this statement:
“Power Slap is fully regulated by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) and the highest medical safety standards are in place to make the sport safer for all competitors. All Power Slap events are attended by a wide range of medical professionals, including independent medical staff and those associated with the NSAC. All participants undergo rigorous medical checks before and after each competition, including magnetic resonance imaging. All Power Slap athletes will also have the option to be screened by the Lou Ruvo Brain Health Center in Las Vegas, in partnership with the Cleveland Clinic, which is conducting the largest brain health study and longest in professional sports.
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It’s expected that Power Slap has its legal and precautionary ducks in a row. But while the statement above may sound nice, it only covers what happens in the event of injuries, failing to address why there’s unnecessary barbarism at its core. Hopefully no one writing about combat sports would be dumb enough to believe boxing and mixed martial arts aren’t also brutally violent at times. Heck, even if professional wrestling has predetermined results, the stunts and risks to their health are real. And their brand of theatre has no second takes.
Most boxing matches, UFC fights and professional wrestling quarrels don’t end with serious injury. Possibility always exists. Strategies for not getting hit, knocking, subduing, or protecting your opponent’s head when taking a stake are indelible parts of those sports. What is the thought process while waiting for a slap in the face? “Gee, I hope I wake up in a few seconds!” That sounds like a terrible safety net. The sport shouldn’t have existed, and I doubt the show has the full eight episodes ordered on TBS and scheduled pay-per-view. I have a better name for the show – Power-ish Slap: Road to CTE.
