What’s the story?
Ever since former World Heavyweight Champion Jack Swagger and WWE parted ways last month, fans have been curious about his future. Specifically, where he’s going to wrestle next and what name he’ll go by. Today, it looks like we have answers to both.
In case you didn’t know...
Swagger’s early years in WWE were actually pretty successful having won the ECW Championship, United States Champion, and the World Heavyweight Championship within his first three years in the company.
However, things started to slow down for him afterwards and, even with a hot angle in which he played a Tea Party-style “real American”, he was eventually simply not being used. He requested his release on March 1st and was granted it on the 13th.
The heart of the matter
Now that he’s free and clear with his release (although, presumably, he can’t appear on TV for 90 days), he’s ready to hit the independent circuit. As for what name he’ll go by, well... let’s just say it’s not the most creative name. As he said in an interview with the Memorabilia Guy website,
“Intellectually, they own ‘Jack Swagger’, but I’ve been that for 10 years now, so I think the easiest way for me, at this point, to not get into any issues, and not to get into any red tape, I’m going as ‘Formerly Known as Jack Swagger’.
Also read: Jack Swagger on the real reason behind his WWE exit
What’s next?
The former Swagger admits that the decision to leave WWE didn’t come light, say that he and his wife discussed it for quite some time before he asked for his release.
“I’m very thankful for the career that I had in the WWE. Getting out there and seeing different cultures was a really big perk for me... We’d both started this path together ten years ago. But I just feel like I needed a change, and they needed a change.”
Swagger doesn’t count out returning to the company that gave him his start in the future, stating that “he can always possibly get back to it down the road.” But, at the moment, he’s excited about the possibilities that life outside the McMahon empire can provide him.
Author’s take
I’ve never been the biggest fan of Swagger in the WWE, but I certainly didn’t change the channel when I saw him. Much like guys like Cody Rhodes and Drew MacIntyre have done, hopefully, he can use this time outside of WWE to improve and further develop his persona.
Of course, if he signs with Impact, Ring of Honor, or any other company with a TV deal, he’s going to have to pick a name other than “Formerly Known as Jack Swagger.:
Send us news tips at [email protected]
