Q&A with Jack Swagger
I conducted a phone interview earlier this week with new world heavyweight champion Jack Swagger, who will defend his title at WWE’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view Sunday at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore.
We know that you wrestled at the University of Oklahoma and earned a degree in business finance. Tell me about how you got into pro wrestling and the role that Jim Ross played.
I met Jim halfway through my college career and he told me to get my degree, and then if I wanted the opportunity, to come talk to him. My whole last semester I was doing the graduation/job interview thing, which was very mentally draining. I had a job lined up with a finance firm in Dallas, and the day I was supposed to sign up and go to work for them fulltime was the same day I got the WWE contract in the mail. I had to call [the finance firm] and tell them that I was going to wear spandex and baby oil for a living.
Were you a pro wrestling fan growing up?
Oh yeah, a huge fan. I started wrestling when I was like 5 years old, so any form of it, I ate it up. Of course in the ’90s it was so exciting with the competition [between WWE and WCW] and everything. Like I said, I’ve been wrestling since I was 5, so any form of wrestling that I see, I automatically love. I think it’s the greatest sport on the planet.
How much did your amateur wrestling background help prepare you for WWE?
I felt like when I came in, even though I was about as raw as you could be to professional wrestling, because of the background, I still was light years ahead of most people. As far as the work in the ring, it’s so much technique and spacing and timing, and that’s what amateur wrestling is, too. So I felt like I learned very fast and a lot of things came naturally for me.
What was the toughest aspect of learning to be a pro wrestler?
Like I said, the physical part came very naturally to me. The toughest part was the character development and in-ring psychology. Everybody in this business learns something new every day, especially when it comes to those two. … I still remember when I first signed, it was very overwhelming to get on a microphone and just talk and have it come across as real and believable. I’m not going to lie: It was a big mountain for me, I would say.
So how much of Jake Hager [Swagger’s real name] is in Jack Swagger?
I’d say a lot. It’s who I am, it’s just amplified. I feel the most comfortable out there when I’m just being Jake Hager. Maybe that makes me a jerk to a certain extent, but you just have to go on your own personality, your own value of what’s entertaining and what feels good for you. It’s your instincts, and when you rely on that, nine times out of 10 it’s the right thing to do.
Your push in WWE has been accelerated over the past three weeks since winning the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania XXVI. Prior to that, it seemed as if you were stuck in neutral. Were you surprised when you were told that you were going to get this opportunity?
It definitely was a whirlwind turn of events and I’ve been riding high ever since. In certain aspects it was surprising, but I felt like I had the tools and the skills to carry that championship and be a face for this company. To me personally, it wasn’t that much of a surprise. It was just a matter of time, I felt. If you go back and look at WWE Magazine, they asked me when I was going to win my first world championship and I told them WrestleMania XXVI, so I was only a couple days off.
Since winning the title your character has undergone a change. The guy with the disingenuous grin doing the push-ups and beating his chest is gone. You’re much more of a serious character now. What are your thoughts about it?
I think the character is still the same. I’m still Jack Swagger, the All-American American, and all that cockiness and chest-beating is still there, it’s still inside, and I believe that translates in my matches. The change in what you see I think just reflects how important that world title is. It’s a game-changer and you have to treat it like so if you want to be successful. That’s just my respect for this business and respect for that championship, and the fact that I’m going to do everything I can to hang onto it as long as I can.
A lot of guys in the business wrestle well into their 40s and way beyond. How long do you see yourself doing this?
Good Lord willing I’d like to do it until I’m financially comfortable and I can venture off and find something else that I’m just as passionate about. But I love this industry, I love working for this company. It would take a lot for me to just hang it up, but it’s not going to last forever and you have to prepare yourself for it. Anything can change at any minute. It’s kind of one of the exciting things about it, but at the same time one of the downsides about it. I see Jack Swagger wrestling for at least another 10 years.
How do you feel about your lisp being brought up in a mocking way on the show? Have you ever been self conscious about it?
Oh sure, as a kid I was self conscious about it, but a lot of people tell me they don’t even notice it. I’m sure it comes out here and there. First of all, it’s a real disease. It’s my cross to bear or what not. I’m joking around here, but at times I’m like, “Come on, this is a little childish.” But at the same time, it’s true so why not use it?
With WWE having its own film division, a lot of the guys are breaking into acting and doing movies. Is that something that you’re interested in?
Definitely. I’ve always been a big fan of Hollywood. If the opportunity presents itself, I would jump at it. I think I still have a ways to go before I’m ready for that transition, but it’s definitely a possibility. I look like a winner, I smell like a winner, so why not put it on the big screen?
Photo courtesy of World Wrestling Entertainment
Comments
Superb interview, Eck.
It's refreshing to see an out of character interview and also to see an obviously intelligent, well educated young man in the industry.
May there be more of it.
Posted by: John | April 23, 2010 5:50 AM
I think highly of Swagger as an in-ring performer and I think he has a lot of potential (his very good matches with Christian for the ECW title got me behind him), but his push has been horribly managed. Apparently, WWE felt he was championship material sometime in the lead-up to Wrestlemania, so why was he losing to Santino, the biggest jobber in the 'E (no offense to Santino, he's a good performer, but he is a total jobber) in the lead up to the Rumble? Do they really not think that far ahead?
Good interview, though. You addressed some of my complaints but Swagger still had a fair chance to address them while staying sorta in character. I wish him the best, but I don't think that's gonna be enough to keep the strap on him long.
Posted by: J Newbs | April 23, 2010 5:55 AM
He comes off as a humble young guy who appreciates the opportunity he was given. This interview improved my perception of him but I'm not sure I agree with his comment about the push-ups. I'd bet someone on the creative side told him to quit smiling if he wants to be taken seriously as champion.
I hope he retains the title in some manner following his match with Orton on Sunday. I can see them building a program out of this.
Posted by: Brent W | April 23, 2010 11:44 AM
Swagger should slowly bring back the arrogance. Hopefully he beats Orton at Extreme Rules and gets another high profile victory after that. Then, Swagger can start to show more arrogance and break back into his ECW character.
Good interview
Posted by: Another Wrestling Mark | April 23, 2010 1:38 PM
I saw Jack on WJZ - Channel 13 this morning. He appeared to be a humble person in real life and not full of himself.
Posted by: mark smith | April 23, 2010 1:52 PM
Nice job on the interview, Kevin. Not sure how accessible these guys are for you, but would love to see more Q & A's, even with retired wrestlers. Maybe something like the "Where are They Now?" series the Sun did years ago with former O's players that I really enjoyed.
Thanks again!
Posted by: LarryB | April 23, 2010 5:08 PM
"I think the character is still the same. I’m still Jack Swagger, the All-American American, and all that cockiness and chest-beating is still there, it’s still inside....."
Yeah keeping your character inside is a great way to get over.
Posted by: Elevation | April 24, 2010 12:28 AM
He says all the right things, you could see why Good Ole JR would meet this kid and say, "come see me [after you've graduated and prepared yourself for life]"
I was already a Swagger mark, more-so now I'd say. Jake Hager is just getting really good at his job.
Also, in a way, regarding him DOING jobs- he has shown to be a team/company guy who when booked a certain way, puts in the work, makes it look good and will surely get done right by him. I appreciate the respect for the belt and after Smackdown saw an unfamiliar look from the Champ, perhaps building depth to his character (bloodied and beaten, he knew he was lucky to have that gold). Shawn Michaels and all the best say it's about amplifying who you really are, so he is definitely well rounded from from that and a technical in-ring perspective as well as an out-of-ring lifestyle. He was upfront and frank about his lisp and overcoming some anxiety and discomfort on the mic, and as I said, I am a Swagger mark, so that makes me respect him that much more. Guys like The Miz & Morrison both have shortcomings, in-ring and out, but we (usually) dont watch for those, we choose to see their in-ring athletic talents, but when guys like them and Swagger legitimately put in the time and effort to get better, we the IWC and everyone get a better product.
On another note, Eck, I've been watching wrestling a long time, and they no longer say things in WWE like "I'm just getting word that so-and-so have been scheduled in a match or is pulling up..." Sometimes in TNA (I can hear it in Taz's voice only actually) but never in WWE. I supposed we could nitpick at things like that, and Belt vs "Championship". Do you think WWE has gotten away from that as to not go out of their way to let be known someone is feeding lines into their headsets? I always saw it (and still do) as essentially an inside line to what's going on regarding a (kayfabe) situation/match. TNA uses the professor Mike Tenay and Taz [FTW13] perfectly in this regard. I do miss Jim Ross though...
Mickie James, Katie Lea, and Shelton Benjamin (If he's up to it) could all be BIG players in TNA.
- Imagine The Pope & Shelton Benjamin vs. Mr. Anderson & AJ Styles in a ladder match
- Mickie has those nice girl qualities that would play perfectly as a face against Beautiful People type heels.
- Katie Lea Burchill would fit in perfectly with what TNA's knockouts are all about, more athletic than some already there (she would also be great with a British heel like Desmond Wolfe if Chelsea becomes Naitch's fulltime wheelchair jockey or even as Rob Terry gets his recent push, bring him to down to earth with a female, as to also give him someone to do the bulk of the talking. His ferocity and her sultry, eccentric, maniacal in-ring persona would be a great fit)
-Also, someone asked in another post about the last time CM Punk hit the GTS. I think it's been a while since he hit a clean one, there was one that looked awkward about a month ago. I wouldn't be suprised if he was masking an injury and they hid it with a combination of Luke Gallows wrestling and Punk himself actually just interfering. They wouldn't have been able to afford losing him on the mic, and he has not diasppointed. Again, this is just a theory as to why we havent seen a.) too much 1 on 1 (he did look good in tag team action) and b.) a clean GTS in a few months now.
Side Notes:
-Heath Slater has IT. not sure what or how, but he is a blank canvas with a creative team that made Jeff Hardy & Shawn Michaels.
-Darren Young, Justin Gabriel, Wade Barrett, Daniel Bryan, & David Otunga: These guys I think out of NXT will be the ones to be featured on future programming based on what we've seen taking all into account. (I realize that is 6 of 8 but I believe the show is more about exposure and making them familiar to us the viewer, seeing who is over, who has potential, needs work, etc, than it is about "voting someone off" Many of these guys have futures with WWE. Sheffield included also, interested to see where him as a heel goes, will he shut up and listen to Regal??)
But hey, I'm just another guy with spare time and a high writing acumen. Eck, I'd love to talk with you in any regard about being affiliated- I could be your AAA team so to speak, back you up with "Ringropes"
P.S. I watched Impact first this week. First time ever :-/
Posted by: ChrisB44 | April 25, 2010 8:15 AM
I wrestled with Jake in high school, after he graduated I remember struggling against people he took down with ease. He's always been confident and seemingly arrogant. I think it's because he took his size and worked with skill to dominate and his training in high school made him have a winner mentality. I know growing up in his shadow made me tougher and this guy is one of the most formidable opponents anyone can have. Wrestlings in his blood, it's how we were raised, and as for his lisp it's in his genetics, and yes he caught some jokes about it, but hes just an unstoppable athlete.
Posted by: Maroon04 | April 30, 2010 12:33 AM