The Real Jake Hager in AEW

The Real Jake Hager in AEW

Picture Via Telegraph

Jake Hager formally known as Jack Swagger during his time in WWE, 

Jake had a great run in WWE and started in the promotion in 2006 and Hager become WWE Developmental Territory FCW 1st ever FCW World Champion.

Jake then moved to the main WWE roster and from 2008-2017 and during that time Jake become ECW Champion, WWE Money in The Bank Winner, United States Champion and World Heavyweight Champion.

Jake had a memorable pairing With Zeb Colter and later Cesaro as the Real Americans. I thought Zeb and Jake were a great pairing and complemented each other so well and when they debuted it created so much buzz and controversy but it seemed like WWE got cold feet and never took this as far as it could go, it would of been interesting to see how far this could of gone.

You can check out a recent interview Jake did with Dutch Mantell (Zeb Colter) on his podcast they go into their run in WWE and the issues they faced while working for the company 

click this link to listen - Dutch Mantell Interview With Jack Hager - University of Dutch Podcast

During this time I went to Wrestlemania 29 in New York and got to see Jake Hager Challenge for World Heavyweight Title sadly he did not win the match and then WWE decided to tone down Swagger and Colter and they didnt feel controversial, different or New or Fresh my gut feeling was WWE got cold feet and didn't want to go forward is such a shame and one of those might of been in Pro Wrestling. 

See the video below of Zeb Colter state of the union address with Jack Hager (via WWE youtube) 

Jake Hager was granted his released and left WWE in 2017 it was a  huge shame - WWE just didn't seem to know what to do with Jake at this point and maybe the timing was right to move on and try something new.

Luckily for me Just after Jake Hager was released he came to Bath, UK and was on a show with CSF Wrestling. we also did 3 other shows together (I Think) that year. I got to spend some time with Jake during this time and he was a great person to be around, a very funny individual who loved pro wrestling we had so much fun and so many great memories that I look back on fondly to this day.

Jake loves what he does for a living but loves his wife and family even more - he does what he does for them -  This is important to remember for later in this article. 

Jake Hager Signed with Bellator MMA shortly after and began training for his first fight alongside this Jake announced that he would also keep wrestling.

See Highlights of Jake Hager first MMA fight Below (from Bellaltor Youtube)

Jake Hager would work Independent Wrestling Promotions in 2017 all over the world and in 2018 Jake signed with Lucha Underground and assumed the name of Jake Strong. 

Jake went on to become Lucha Underground Champion and became Lucha Underground last ever champion.

Via Lunchaunderground

Following Lucha Underground not being renewed for Season 5 Jake Hager then debuted with All Elite Wrestling on October 2nd 2019 Joining Chris Jericho New Group The Inner Circle. (Plus wearing a great polo shirt!)

Watch Jake Hager AEW Debit below (via TNT Youtube) 

Jake debuting on AEW Dynamite 1st ever episode was huge, it got a huge response social media was buzzing and people and fans were intrigued what Hager was going to do in AEW as he at this point had already had fights in Bellator.

This was a different Jake Hager that we had seen previously gone was the catchphrases of the past, and the gimmicks of the past. Initially Hager would Accompany Jericho and the rest of his stable mates The Inner Circle to the ring  and would be an imposing figure in the background, stone faced and also be in and around ringside and would interfere in matches usually helping his stable mates win matches. Hager would also say the word Sorry for Chris Jericho when  Chris Jericho unable to say this himself in promos - this is a small detail but i thought it was a really clever thing and added something new to Chris Jericho giving them both something new.

Hager used his wrestling skills in Bellator after a match vs T J Jones in May 2019 where Hager was being booed by fans Hager cut an excellent promo on the fans in attendance which the famous line "Rock Hard With Emotion" it was a fun promo and one that garnered alot of attention from both Wrestling and MMA fans. 

See the interview below (from Bellator Youtube)

Hager would take elements from his Bellator MMA Fighting and put use them in his AEW Wrestling career for example Hager had a fight against Anthony Garrett and Hager was accused of giving Garett a Low blow with his knee (although it was later shown Garrett had done the exact same thing before and that Hager knee hit Garrett in his thigh) the match ended up being called off - however following that Hager started using the low blow in Beatdowns Inner Circle would give to their targets - Hager taking a real life element and using it in wrestling very smart.

Hager did not wrestle in AEW from October 2019 until Feb 2020. This was clever by AEW as they made Jake Hager first match mean even more when it came around it built some anticipation and it wasn't rushed right out of the gate it build some intrigue. It gave Hager a different role and I think the time was necessary so that fans could see him in a new way rather than the way he had been previously portrayed. 

Hager would then get himself into a backstage fight with Dustin Rhodes on and episode of AEW dynamite and slam his arm in a car door which would then lead to his first match in AEW. 

See Dustin Rhodes Challenge to Jake Hager Below (from AEW Youtube)

In February 2020 Hager faced Dustin Rhodes at AEW Revolution and this is where we started to see more of the New Jake Hager.

Jake made his entrance and went down crowd barrier and gave his wife Catalina a long kiss before getting into the ring, Jake then made his way to the ring and had a great match to kick off the show with Jake winning he match with his Submission Triangle that has also defeated Bellator MMA fighters in MMA matches also, following the match Jake hoisted his wife on his shoulders and exited the arena.



This is the New Jake Hager this is Jake Hager being Jake Hager and I loved it.

The Real Jake Hager, would have a series of Promos with Jon Moxley, as Moxley had defeated Chris Jericho for AEW World Title at Revolution so Moxley next challenger would be Jake Hager.

Then on an episode of AEW Dynamite a video package aired which went back and forward between Jake Hager and Jon Moxley a package that was very interesting as It was Jake Hager talking as Jake Hager, he was saying how he does this for his family, he talked about the sacrifices that his family make for him and how it motives him in return, Jake states that he is a prizefighter and does this for money - the interview even intertwined Catalina his wife where she talks about Jake and even states "if he doesn't win he wont get back in the house"  this promo was an excellent mix of wrestling and reality elements and was very entertaining.

Watch the promo below (From AEW Youtube) 

Part 2 of Hager vs Moxley Promo 

Sadly Jake Hager he didn't beat Jon Moxley in AEW World Title Match on AEW Dynamite and in a series of extremely funny videos Jake Hager would try and get back in his house with no luck and would end up by the pool of his house.

Hager was been an imposing presence again in AEW helping The Inner Circle in their feud vs The Elite battling all over Daily's Place and being a part of the Stadium Stampede Match at AEW Double or Nothing in a losing effort vs The Elite.

In AEW you can see Jake Hager is having fun again and its clear for all to see, Jake is being himself and being what he wants to be in pro wrestling and for me that's when you get the best from people when they are happy and doing something that motivates and challenges them in the right way its going to be a great future for The Real Jake Hager in AEW.

Thanks for Reading

@jon422002
Jonathan Orchard