IYO: The All American American Jack Swagger

[GD]

A former 3 time champion in the WWE with reigns as the United States Champion, the ECW Champion and the World Heavyweight Champion, Jack Swagger has some impressive achievements in the WWE.

Swagger is well known for his in-ring work and speech impediment. In his rookie year, Swagger remained undefeated and went on to win the ECW's World title.

http://www.wrestlingvalley.org/wv/02/22027/22027.jpg

Unfortunately for Swagger, he was left out of that year's Wrestlemania and demoted to a lumberjack position for the pre-Wrestlemania tag team match which saw the unification of the tag team belts. Swagger would then go on to lose the belt to Christian Cage at backlash in a very intense match. After a few unsuccessful rematches, Swagger was drafted to the RAW brand. Although having good matches from time to time, Swagger would lose majority of them. His attempts to capture the United States title also went in vain.

In 2010, Swagger would shock the world and go on to win the 10-man MITB ladder Match at his debut Wrestlemania.

http://www.lonerogue.com/epoch/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/jack-swagger-money-in-the-bank.jpg

After calling off his attempt on RAW, Swagger would successfully cash in his contract on Smackdown to win the prestigious World Heavyweight Championship after pinning Chris Jericho.

http://prowrestlingpowerhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Jack_Swagger_The_WHChamp_by_windows8osx1.jpg

Swagger would go on to successfully defend the belt against talents such as Chris Jericho, Edge, Randy Orton and Big Show before losing it to Rey Mysterio in a Fatal 4 Way match at Fatal 4 Way. Swagger was once again drafted to RAW in 2011. Swagger was in Cole's corner for his match against Lawler at Wrestlemania 26.

Ever since, Swagger has been on a horrible losing streak. He would eventually become Vickie Guerrero's client and pursue the tag team belts along with Dolph Ziggler.

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After numerous attempts to capture the United States title from time to time, Swagger would defeat Zack Ryder for the strap in January 2012 on an edition of RAW. Swagger would eventually lose the belt to Santino prior to Wrestlemania.

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Swagger was the part of Team Johnny who went on to defeat Team Teddy at Wrestlemania. It must be noted that he is currently undefeated at Wrestlemania. After a few more attempts at the United-States title and the tag team belts, Swagger continues his unimpressive losing streak on RAW. His most recent loss on the 1000th episode of RAW came to Brodus Clay in less than a minute.

I have (personally) been a huge mark for Swagger from the very beginning. But it seems like he is going to keep on jobbing in the upcoming future.

Feel free to post your opinions on Jack Swagger :wave:

[whiteyford]

I'm a fan, just a shame he's not getting used better.

[Razzamajazz]

he'll be released next year

[XL]

Was gonna post a thread entitled "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Jack Swagger?" where I would ask what people would do with the All American American to put him back in the spotlight.

Personally, I'm a big fan. I loved his reign as World Champ and his promos were great.

My idea:

Swagger is down in the dumps having been dropped by Vickie and constantly losing. After another losing effort (perhaps to somebody really embarrassing), Swagger is sat in his locker room looking miserable when in walks Jim Ross.

Good Ol' JR reminds Jack that it was he who scouted the young Swagger at Oklahoma University. He reminds him of his talent, how he set a record for most pins in a single season, how he hails from the great state of Oklahoma!

Over time JR develops a Coach gimmick, complete with pre-match pep-talks, mid-match "Time Outs" and Post-game analysis. JR should go really over the top with this gimmick, keep the goatee, the hat and have his Hall Of Fame ring on show at all times and carry/refer to his "Play Book".

If Swagger fails to get over, have JR bring in Alex Riley in his "Varsity Villain" persona and create a nice little tag team with a "jock" gimmick.

[Kane Knight]

He's gonna unify the titles, main event both shows, get three segments of screen time a night, and be in the dog house.

[Emperor Smeat]

Felt the WWE rushed him way too quickly on the road of him becoming World Heavyweight champion. Him as the ECW champion wasn't too bad considering ECW at the time was becoming more of a development brand.

He's decent in the ring but pretty awkward when it comes to promos which hurt him as a champion.

[VSG]

I have (personally) been a huge mark for Swagger from the very beginning.

I have (personally) been a huge mark for Mrs. Swagger from the very beginning.

[Lock Jaw]

I don't care for Swagger. He can be alright at times, but most of the time he just looks awkward.

[DrCrawford]

i blame that on the booking though. he needs to lose those awful singlets and stop being a goober. i like his hair better the way it is now

like everyone has said before, he looks like biff tannen from back to the future. especially with his hair like that. nothing wrong with looking the part but they make him act goofy like biff and its just not working. make him serious. he needs to be the southern collegiate athlete that he really is

[Kane Knight]

i blame that on the booking though. he needs to lose those awful singlets and stop being a goober. i like his hair better the way it is now

Well, this thread certainly turned gay fast.

[MoFo]

Hes just there, doesnt turn me away or draw me in either way.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

If he turns into Biff Tannen for real and starts calling people butthead-yay.

Other than that-nay.

[whiteyford]

Think Tom Guycott said it in another thread but Swagger is a guy who could actually benefit from the 'bad-ass submission machine' gimmick, he's basically a Kurt Angle rip off anyway why not run with it.

Kinda like what XL said too but i'd rather see him as part of a stable, if Flairs coming back let him reform the Horsemen/Evolution and take the JJ Dillon role, and pick three other guys the office see's potential in to go with Swagger, let them be a dominant mid card threat, in the same way DX was after HBK left, and build them up slowly with the Tag Titles and a US/IC reign. You've got an extra hour to kill on Raw after all.

[blak23]

um... He's on T.V. every week. I think he's just fine

[XCaliber]

Nay was never a fan of the guy there were moments of brilliance for a while but I believe the big reason he will never get over is because of not having a real gimmick.

[Jura]

He's no Kurt Angle.

[Rollermacka]

He is by far the most least threatening 6 ft 7 260 lb man in professional wrestler I've ever seen. I don't know see him as much more than he is. Personally, I prefer Miz over Swagger

[dronepool]

Ziggy out did him. He needs a new gimmick and meaner look.

[Lock Jaw]

Really should have had Vickie end up with only him, and "reinventing" him. Somehow.

[KaosDarksol]

He will defeat the undertaker at wrestlmania to continue his undefeated streak

[stultiloquy]

I never cared about him.

I find him to be extremely bland in nearly every way; as far as I'm concerned his speech impediment is the only unique aspect about him.

[James Steele]

I like Jack Swagger.

[Lock Jaw]

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/8388/swaggerortoncleanpin.gif

[Keith]

Not a fan of his at all.

He just comes out looking stupid just stomping, yelling and making faces.

[Damn]

I like the guy he seems like nice kids but I dont think he can be a main eventer

[Brigstocke]

His new comb-over haircut looks fucking ridiculous. He also looks like he has a constant need to have a big shit.

[Damn]

He needs to shave his head bald, rename himself "Dungeon" and randomly attack stars backstage

[crusnik]

:y:I don't care for Swagger. He can be alright at times, but most of the time he just looks awkward.

[Lock Jaw]

Repackage him as Dan Severn.

[whiteyford]

With or without the 'stache?

[Damn]

With or without the 'stache?

A stache that he can take off and throw like a boomerang at his opponents.

[Lock Jaw]

With or without the 'stache?

The 'stache is pretty essential.

[whiteyford]

Dunno if he could pull it off though, unless his new gimmick means he hails from 'The Blue Oyster Bar'.

Miss Dan Severn now :-\

[Tom Guycott]

I say thee nay, but not on his ability.

Unlike my feelings about someone like Chris Masters, who was pushed SOLELY because he looked the shit while on the juice, Jack Swagger has potential: solid build, solid ringwork, and copious amounts of upside. The problem is that he is packaged as nothing more than an unapologetic knockoff of Kurt Angle, made worse by the fact that Angle is in TNA, and there is no way for this to be like Kurt trying to "mold another me" or the built in feud of "Vince trying to replace me". There's no payoff in it whatsoever. Not for WWE, and not for Swagger.

He can go in the ring, he has "okay" mic skills, and his ever present speech impediment has whittled down some, and can be overcome with practice (see: Cody Rhodes).

He needs an image overhaul- attire, music, and especially gimmick, and a decent reserved push... not the rocket he had strapped to his ass as soon as he got in the door. His losing streak, IF PUT OVER CORRECTLY (like MVP, for example) can have a decent outcome for his career.

One of two things that would work for him is a) unjokingly snap (due to his losses) and become a badass submission (injury) machine. Holds submissions too long, gets decisions reversed, puts guys out of action for a couple weeks or legit injured guys a way to be written off of TV. b) he can be an enforcer of a SMALL stable (like, 3 guys tops... not the disorganized circus of clowns escorted by Jinder Mahal- also, size wise small... like Slater and some new kid from NXT or something).

As he stands right now, he will be nothing but jobbed and eventually future endeavored because people are too lazy to give him something decent to do.

Swagger could be great, but not as is.

[Tom Guycott]

Think Tom Guycott said it in another thread but Swagger is a guy who could actually benefit from the 'bad-ass submission machine' gimmick, he's basically a Kurt Angle rip off anyway why not run with it.



And thanks to you, it is now actually in a Thwagger thread I didn't even know existed. :y:

[Shisen Kopf]

He is not serious business.

[Tom Guycott]

He doesn't have to be serious business, but he's more like an in-joke as it stands.

It's like Vince got bitter and butthurt that Kurt Angle left, and he goes "You know what... SSCCCRRREEWW KURT ANGLE!!! I can make another Kurt Angle! I'm Vince McMahon, dammit!"

And so, in walks the "All American American American... (how ever many fucking times he chooses to say it) Jack Swagger" given to some kid who think's he's gettiing some kind of huge break, when really, he's just a guy in place to placate an ego of either the head honcho or someone in creative who decided to send Mr. Angle a big "fuck you" in the form of a pale imitation.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Jack Swagger is pretty great. I enjoy almost everything he does. I think being paired with Ziggler did more harm than good for Swagger, because Dolph really stepped up and worked well in the pairing, while Swagger was sort of just there.

It also seems like the WWE seems to avoid giving Swagger much proper development or any proper storylines. His stuff with Michael Cole just seemed to end, as did his stuff with Vickie and Dolph.

Swagger really could use a manager, because although he's not as bad as people make out, he's certainly not the best talker in the business or anything. I've found his promos entertaining, but I can't really think of one where he sold himself as a performer. I was thinking that A.W. could be a great fit for Swagger, but the more I think about it, the more I could also see a a Swagger/A.W. feud being better long-term for Swagger.

You could have A.W. refuse to sign Swagger due to his losing streak. This offends Swagger who decides to make it his personal mission to make sure "All World Promotions" goes under. Swagger starts costing the Prime Time Players matches against babyface teams, and they are all "A.W., this needs to stop." As a face, Swagger might be able to connect with people and evolve his personality towards something with a bit more energy behind it. After that, Swagger could go on to feud with Antonio Cesaro, who could have a strangle-hold on the US Title. Swagger can be the good ol' Oklahoma boy who tries to wrestle the US Title away from the condescending foreigner.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I love Jack Swagger. Still one of my favorites on the roster.

And Noid, as far as promos where he sold himself as a performer, did you ever see that one on Smackdown when he was champ and had all of his life accomplishments in the ring with him? That shit was awesome. I've been looking for a 'Swaggie" sandwich ever since.

Swagger's position isn't his fault. He's just one of those guys that is a more than reliable hand that the writers tend to forget about every now and again for some reason. He's kinda like Wade Barrett in that aspect, and Barrett had been bouncing back nicely before his injury. Swagger's not dead yet.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I love Jack Swagger. Still one of my favorites on the roster.

And Noid, as far as promos where he sold himself as a performer, did you ever see that one on Smackdown when he was champ and had all of his life accomplishments in the ring with him? That shit was awesome. I've been looking for a 'Swaggie" sandwich ever since.

Swagger's position isn't his fault. He's just one of those guys that is a more than reliable hand that the writers tend to forget about every now and again for some reason. He's kinda like Wade Barrett in that aspect, and Barrett had been bouncing back nicely before his injury. Swagger's not dead yet.

I absolutely loved those promos, Thrilla. I loved how they sounded like a high school kidding giving a rehearsed speech. That delivery was absolutely hilarious and perfect for the character of a high school jock that likes to please Daddy and do well at everything he does.

That being said -- while I found those promos entertaining, I don't think they really sold Swagger as an in-ring competitor. He did talk about his amateur wrestling accomplishments, and how people like to name sandwiches after him, but it was more comedic than something that sold Swagger as a legitimate threat.

Big Show and Kane really sold the Ankle Lock when Swagger adopted it after losing the World Title, but I can't remember a single promo where Swagger talked about how effective he actually is as a professional wrestler. I think the closest I have seen is a home-made video he did with his wife handling the camera:

"Do people sometimes get jealous that you're the greatest wrestler in the world? Of course they do -- I'm the greatest wrestler in the world."

[Gertner]

I remember posting here after Swagger's first match on ECW that he was a future World Champion....unfortunately it's been more lows than highs. I actually really enjoyed his title run. He cut a fantastic promo during his feud with Big Show. Definitely expected more, but I'm not giving up hope. He's a solid in ring competitor and very under-rated on the mic.

[Shisen Kopf]

Swagger is so boring and he has a speech impediment. What they need to do is give him a gimmick where he teams up with Cody Rhodes and they recite tongue twisters before their matches.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Definitely sounds like a Ryback match waiting to happen.

[Feed me!]

How was swagger ever world heavyweight champion? Wrestling must of been going through a bad patch at that time, obviously because I wasn't watching.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I absolutely loved those promos, Thrilla. I loved how they sounded like a high school kidding giving a rehearsed speech. That delivery was absolutely hilarious and perfect for the character of a high school jock that likes to please Daddy and do well at everything he does.

That being said -- while I found those promos entertaining, I don't think they really sold Swagger as an in-ring competitor. He did talk about his amateur wrestling accomplishments, and how people like to name sandwiches after him, but it was more comedic than something that sold Swagger as a legitimate threat.

Big Show and Kane really sold the Ankle Lock when Swagger adopted it after losing the World Title, but I can't remember a single promo where Swagger talked about how effective he actually is as a professional wrestler. I think the closest I have seen is a home-made video he did with his wife handling the camera:

"Do people sometimes get jealous that you're the greatest wrestler in the world? Of course they do -- I'm the greatest wrestler in the world."

Does it matter that he wasn't talking about being a great wrestler, though? As long as he's solid in his actual matches (and he was during that run, even getting a clean fall over Randy Orton), it shouldn't matter what he's talking about in his promos. I know it was entertaining, and that's a key component to a good wrestling program.

If anything, I think they shouldn't have booked him as such a chicken shit against Kane and Big Show to an extent. I would have liked to have seen him fall much more in love with the actual title. He could have been a goofy, happy-go-lucky braggart outside the ring, but inside the ring when his title was in danger, he could become a crazed lunatic stooping to whatever levels to retain his precious "accomplishment".

Oh well, no point in thinking about all that now. I do think he has the tools to be something big again, though. The announcers always put him over as a real threat.