On Feb. 8, Wyoming became the first state to approve wagering on Power Slap, Dana White's controversial UFC offshoot in which two combatants take turns open-hand slapping one another with all their might.
Humans have been slapping each other since they dwelled in caves, but the act of violence reached a cultural crescendo when Will Smith put his right palm to Chris Rock's left cheek at the 2022 Oscars. Standing nearly 6'2″ and having portrayed Muhammad Ali onscreen, Smith is no anatomical slouch – but his sneak attack on Rock did little to no damage in the physical sense.
The “strikers” in Power Slap, however, impact opponents' faces with such a vengeance that they frequently fall to the ground, rendered dazed and confused. A TV show devoted to the fledgling slapping league has thus far drawn a meager audience on TBS, but it has nevertheless caught criticism from all corners – including rebukes from professional fighters in other disciplines, concussion experts, and even celebrity chefs.
Real Hunger games is next?????