A misleading video purporting to show a Power Slap competitor breaking down in tears after receiving a devastating blow has been exposed as artificial intelligence manipulation, sparking outrage across social media platforms.
The fabricated clip allegedly depicted Zoe Dubois, a professional wrestler who transitioned to Dana White’s controversial slapping competition, crying after taking a hard strike during her match against Destiny McCubbin. The doctored footage quickly spread across various social media accounts, with one viral post claiming “Woman started crying after being slapped really hard in Power Slap for money.”
Fake Video:
A woman broke down in tears after being struck hard during the show Power Slap while competing for money.😳💔 pic.twitter.com/34cs0fTZt8
— RaphouseTV uncut (@Raphousetvuncut) September 2, 2025
However, UFC veteran Tom Lawlor was quick to call out the deception, posting on social media: “People will just post any old AI bullshit nowadays.” Lawlor then shared authentic footage from the actual competition, revealing that Dubois maintained her composure throughout the legitimate match without any emotional breakdown.
Real Video:
People will just post any old AI bullshit nowadays
THE REAL VIDEO IS BELOW https://t.co/WCL75vuEtl pic.twitter.com/2TTrII4aoP
— “Filthy” Tom Lawlor (@FilthyTomLawlor) September 2, 2025
The incident highlights a growing concern about AI-generated content spreading misinformation in combat sports. Social media users expressed frustration at being deceived by the sophisticated fake video.
One user commented: “I seen the video and didnt think much of it besides ‘damn’ and now I find out its ai??? I can’t keep getting tricked by this ai shit. This is wild bro.”
Others drew comparisons to previous AI manipulations in Power Slap content, with one observer noting: “It’s like the stupid Power Slap video of an Asian woman magically transforming into Paige VanZant after a slap.”
The real Zoe Dubois made the transition from professional wrestling to Power Slap as part of Dana White’s recruitment strategy targeting independent wrestlers. During a recent podcast appearance, White specifically pitched to indie wrestlers struggling financially, stating: “There is a bunch of people out there that want to get into the AEW or the WWE, right? These guys will f*cking jump off a ladder onto a table full of tacks for $50 a night. You can come into Power Slap and make a s**t load of money.”
White elaborated on his recruitment approach: “These guys are all tough guys, big guys so we’re looking at these guys that wanted to be professional wrestlers and a lot of other athletes around the world to come into Power Slap.”
