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What's the story?
Jack Swagger is on cloud nine at the moment as the former WWE Superstar kickstarted his MMA career in impressive fashion by notching up a quick submission win against J.W. Kiser at the recently concluded Bellator 214 event.
The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion was on Jim Ross' podcast before his MMA debut and spoke on a wide range of topics that interestingly included All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and the possibility of him joining the upstart promotion.
In case you didn't know...
Swagger made his MMA debut recently for Bellator's heavyweight division against 41-year-old American J.W. Kiser. He looked solid in victory as he imposed his elite grappling skills to lock in the arm-triangle in the very first round. Swagger incorporated a host of pro wrestling elements from his time with the WWE as he used the 'We the People' catchphrase on numerous occasions and was also accompanied by R-Truth during his walkout to the cage.
In his post-fight interview, Swagger mentioned that he plans on continuing on building up his MMA career for another decade, but does that rule out a return to the squared circle altogether? Well, anything is possible with AEW offering an attractive proposition...
The heart of the matter
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross asked Swagger about the AEW project that has taken the pro wrestling world by storm. Swagger expressed his excitement over AEW and felt like the promotion's formation is changing the landscape of pro wrestling by providing much-needed competition.
The former WWE United States Champion opined that AEW is not just great for wrestlers who have a lucrative place to go now but also for the fans who can witness unique styles and storylines.
He praised the impact of the likes of Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks and Cody Rhodes by saying, "I can't put a finger on how guys like Kenny Omega, guys like The Young Bucks, guys like Cody, over the last two years have just become red-hot and just generated so much momentum. They're just doing the right things at the right times and really making it a great time to be a pro wrestler."
Swagger admitted that he has had brief talks with Cody regarding signing up with the promotion but nothing substantial has happened due to his tight MMA training schedule.
He continued in an optimistic tone by mentioning the Chris Jericho vs. Kenny Omega programme for NJPW in 2018. He said that the refreshing angle kept the fans hooked and expects more of the same from Cody and co. in AEW.
Swagger even spoke about his WWE departure, current lifestyle, and the fear of being a stereotypical former WWE superstar during the engaging podcast. You can check out the complete interview below:
What's next?
The 36-year-old Swagger, real name Jake Hager, is expected to be featured prominently in Bellator in the coming months and should face his first real test in his next fight.
It would be interesting to see if he strikes up a deal with AEW as he does have some time to spare if he isn't tied up to any fight commitments with the Scott Coker-led promotion. AEW's first major event Double or Nothing will take place on May 29th, 2019 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
