The Week contest: Slap citizens

This week's question: A 363-pound man known as the Dumpling has been crowned champion of Russia's first "male slapping" contest, in which two competitors take turns forcefully slapping each other's faces, until one gives up. If a film studio were to make a Rocky-like movie about a face-slapper's inspiring journey to the championship, what would it be called?
Click here to see the results of last week's contest: Conway clash
RESULTS:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
THE WINNER: "Borscht Belting"
Art Rodia, Woodbury, Connecticut
SECOND PLACE: "The Sound of One Hand Slapping"
Andru J. Reeve, Waterford, Virginia
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
THIRD PLACE: "Slapping with the Enemy"
Janine Witte, New Hope, Pennsylvania
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
"Slapped My Way to the Top"
Jill Matthews, Tampa, Florida
"Hands Wide Open"
Ken Liebman, Williston, Vermont
"From Russia without Glove"
Kevin Gillogly, Thousand Oaks, California
"Whack to the Future"
Betsy Gelb, Houston, Texas
"Jowls"
Tina Cramer, Mansfield, Ohio
"Slapping Beauty"
Steve Zeitchik, New York City
"The Man Who Never Cried U.N.C.L.E."
Brent Yamashita, Palo Alto, California
"Cruel Hand Luke"
Steve Doll, Ormond Beach, Florida
"The Face & The Furious"
Chris & Ann Collins, Thousand Oaks, California
"White Men Can’t Thump"
Barbara James, Bedford, Massachusetts
"From Russia with Red Cheeks"
Diane G. Kercher, Tampa, Florida
"The Road to Slappiness"
Jeanne Barnes, Gulf Breeze, Florida
"Hit Men"
Sheldon Friedman, Englewood, Colorado
-
Why does the U.S. need China's rare earth metals?
Today's Big Question Beijing has a 'near monopoly' on tech's raw materials
By Joel Mathis, The Week US
-
When did divorce begin?
The Explaine Couples have always split up, but the institution has undergone major changes over the years
By David Faris
-
What are your retirement savings account options?
The explainer The two main types of accounts are 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs)
By Becca Stanek, The Week US
-
Russia removes the Taliban's terrorist designation as their connections grow
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK