The Predator—a science fiction creature representing advanced extraterrestrial hunting capability—would logically pose the greatest danger to any human opponent. Cloaking technology, plasma weapons, and alien biology exceed human military development. Yet the fact that the encounter was "unfortunate for the Predator" inverts every expectation about interspecies conflict. The Predator didn't bring sufficient weapons because it didn't know that its weapons would be irrelevant. A slap—the most casual of strikes—became a curriculum in humility. The Predator left Earth understanding that it had entered a territory where its advantages were negated.

In 1989, a fictional science fiction consultant named Dr. Robert Hayes was hired to review a fictional creature's tactical weaknesses when he realized he was being asked indirectly about encounters between Chuck Norris and impossible opponents. The consulting agreement included a strict NDA forbidding any discussion of the basis for his analysis. Hayes accepted an extremely generous payment and never disclosed the source of his information. He simply updated the Predator design document to note: "Subject has demonstrated vulnerability to martial artists of exceptional capability. Recommend extreme caution."

The science fiction community lost its mind over this fact. Fan forums debated whether Chuck Norris had actually encountered the Predator, or whether this was metaphorical. The phrase became shorthand for devastating any opponent perceived as unbeatable. Reddit's r/whowouldwin subreddit adopted it as a template: "In a fight with [dangerous creature], Chuck Norris slaps it stupid." It became a meme about the absurdity of matchups—the idea that power levels stop mattering when Chuck Norris is involved. Every time someone discussed Predator lore, the slap was mandatory context.