The All-American American

[Providence Peep]

Can someone please tell me what was supposed to be achieved by having Jack Swagger win the title? Prior to winning it he was a jobber, and when he had the belt he continuously jobbed, so I don't quite understand. My point is, what was the point??

[Mooияakeя™]

I think maybe

To "mix it up"
To throw people and make it look like it's not always who you think will win
To give him a push (but maybe he just hasnt run with it)
They had no idea what to do, so rather than have a HHH reign of terror, thought they should give it someone else to not be boring.

[Jeritron]

It was the same thinking as JBL's reign, only less successful. I think a better question is whether or not he will ever regain the title

[Mr. Pierre]

Transitional runs with guys that have been built up make sense to me (ex: Edge in 2006), but to give a short title reign to a guy who was absolutely nothing before he got the title, makes no sense.

I thought they would build him up WHILE he held the championship, so by the time he loses it, he's a true main eventer and he's set. But now I'm assuming he'll float to the midcard.

[Providence Peep]

But now I'm assuming he'll float to the midcard.

If that's the case, it won't be because he doesn't have the goods. It will be because of poor booking. Besides, he's already booked against Rey for the next PPV. Since Rey isn't expected to have a lengthy reign, it's very likely that Swagger will regain the belt in their match.

Even if he doesn't, I see no reason to believe WWE's given up on him as a main eventer when his title reign lasted longer than Sheamus' first and had more successful defenses.

By the way, on Smackdown, he was booked to look very strong in a match against Big Show; much better than he ever looked against him while he ever actually held the belt. The match ended when Swagger reversed a chokeslam attempt into an ankle lock, which it looks like he's added to his arsenal, and kept applying it even after Show made it to the ropes.

Although Swagger lost by DQ, Show was also tapping repeatedly before he released it, and they spent several minutes straight after Swagger left the ring focusing on Show trying to limp out but not being able to support the weight on his ankle. The whole "Swagger has snapped and wants to hurt people" idea could work very well for him.

If they were intent on burying Swagger out of the main event picture, it seems very unlikely they'd give him a new submission move and have him make one of the most dominant guys in WWE tap out to it.

I don't know why they took the belt off Swagger, but I also don't think he should be pushed down to the mid-card.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

They're definitely not done with him. They probably took the belt off of him so he wouldn't get stale. Plus you can't throw the guy into the title scene without much fanfare and then give him a 6 month reign. Fans won't buy that. But they will buy in when he wins it again because he's built his rep up.

Plus he was incredibly entertaining as champ and that's much more important than win/loss record.

[screech]

Plus he was incredibly entertaining as champ and that's much more important than win/loss record.

I want more Swagger Facts.

[Juan]

see: Sheamus

[Providence Peep]

I want more Swagger Facts.

Have you heard of Wikipedia?

Jacob "Jake" Hager - (born March 24, 1982) is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment, where he works under the name Jack Swagger on the SmackDown brand.

Hager was recruited to the University of Oklahoma as a two-sport athlete, participating in both football and wrestling. He switched to wrestling full-time in his sophomore year, and in 2006, set the record for most pins in a season with 30 as an All-American. Following a try-out, Hager signed a WWE contract in mid-2006. He made his debut for the WWE developmental territory Deep South Wrestling in September, and was moved to the Ohio Valley Wrestling territory in January 2007. A few months later, Hager debuted for Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), where he was the final FCW Southern Heavyweight Champion and the inaugural FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion.

[screech]

Come on, brah. You knew what I meant.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I honestly don't think he did.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I knew what you meant, screech. I got your back, brah.

[screech]

Thanks, brah.

[Providence Peep]

Come on, brah. You knew what I meant.

I was being jocular :)

[jskinnyg]

They're definitely not done with him. They probably took the belt off of him so he wouldn't get stale. Plus you can't throw the guy into the title scene without much fanfare and then give him a 6 month reign. Fans won't buy that. But they will buy in when he wins it again because he's built his rep up.

Plus he was incredibly entertaining as champ and that's much more important than win/loss record.

THIS... Plus I want more Swagger facts & Lisp Syncing too dammit!

[parkmania]

You know, they really should have gone with "Jack Facts"...

[jerichoholicninja]

It seems like every time someone other than Cena, Bats, HHH, or Undertaker gets the belt they are immediately made to look worse than they were before. Shaemus, Punk, and Swagger each started losing as soon as they won the belt. It's like creative spends all their energy getting the belt on someone and then loses interest once they get it.

[Savio]

I dont watch smackdown did he get the Rey Mysterio treatment?

[Kane Knight]

It was the same thinking as JBL's reign, only less successful. I think a better question is whether or not he will ever regain the title
Less successful than one of the worst drawing contemporary champions? That's bad.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I dont watch smackdown did he get the Rey Mysterio treatment?

Sort of. I don't think it looked nearly as bad, because of the quality of the ring work and that it'd often come down to shenanigans -- but Swagger lost matches to Randy Orton (RKO out of nowhere, I believe), John Morrison (but Swagger won two other matches against him), Big Show (Swagger got intentionally disqualified), Kofi Kingston (Big Show distracted Swagger), Rey Mysterio (Mysterio countered the Gutwrench Powerbomb into a sort of reverse bulldog-style move and a flash pin).

Swagger is constantly having good matches, and was hilarious on the mic the whole time. Now that he's dropped the title, it seems like they're going back and rectifying what should have been done with him all along -- a good build. Him destroying Big Show's ankle on SmackDown! was pretty entertaining. I love how they are having Swagger channel Kurt Angle. If he ever re-signs with the WWE, Angle vs. Swagger will be awesome.

Show sold tremendously for Swagger's Ankle Lock. He made it seem like he couldn't stand, and was tapping out after Swagger got disqualified. Jack also looked more dominant than he ever did. He seems like the best elements of Kurt Angle all wrapped into one: He has that goofy persona ("Look what you did to my Daddy on Father's Day!"), always making excuses and the like; but he marched right into that ring and said "I'm going to make you suffer" to Big Show, and then backed it right up.

I think they switched the title largely to keep Rey Mysterio happy. He's sticking around due to an injury while The Undertaker is taking time off, and he always seems to be unhappy about something. This is Rey Mysterio's bone for sticking around and playing "company guy." I don't think it was any punishment of Swagger's. An 82 day reign as World Heavyweight Champion is pretty good in this day and age. Since the beginning of 2009, only The Undertaker held it longer. It wouldn't surprise me to see Swagger regain the belt at Money in the Bank, but I do think they'll hold off on Swagger's second reign for a little bit. I expect a fantastic match between him and Mysterio, though.

[nojomo]

I want more Swagger Facts.

Did you know, that when Jack Swagger went to Summer camp, he and his friend touched weeners.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

You ever tried roasting hot dogs over a fire? There's not a lot of space. They're bound to bump into each other eventually.

[DAMN iNATOR]

Less successful than one of the worst drawing contemporary champions? That's bad.

Yeah. God forbid anybody other than Cena, Triple H or JBL ever get a single world title run of any length of time totaling a year or more, because nobody would be able to do that in reality...besides, of course those 3. :roll::shifty:

Not that what you had to say was invalid KK, quite the contrary. Just saying that seems to be WWE's attitude (ba-zing?) towards the WWE and World titles these days. "Give somebody 2 months, someone else 3 months, oh and just for fun, somebody else can carry it around for 6 months, but then it's right back to transitional champs one after another."

Great business model, eh?

[Favre4Ever]

Jack Swagger will now be appearing exclusively on Superstars.

[Kane Knight]

Yeah. God forbid anybody other than Cena, Triple H or JBL ever get a single world title run of any length of time totaling a year or more, because nobody would be able to do that in reality...besides, of course those 3. :roll::shifty:

Not that what you had to say was invalid KK, quite the contrary. Just saying that seems to be WWE's attitude (ba-zing?) towards the WWE and World titles these days. "Give somebody 2 months, someone else 3 months, oh and just for fun, somebody else can carry it around for 6 months, but then it's right back to transitional champs one after another."

Great business model, eh?
ok

[XL]

I think they switched the title largely to keep Rey Mysterio happy. He's sticking around due to an injury while The Undertaker is taking time off, and he always seems to be unhappy about something. This is Rey Mysterio's bone for sticking around and playing "company guy." I don't think it was any punishment of Swagger's. An 82 day reign as World Heavyweight Champion is pretty good in this day and age. Since the beginning of 2009, only The Undertaker held it longer. It wouldn't surprise me to see Swagger regain the belt at Money in the Bank, but I do think they'll hold off on Swagger's second reign for a little bit. I expect a fantastic match between him and Mysterio, though.
This was my take on it from the moment he took the belt. I wouldn't count out Swagger's main event credentials just yet.

[XCaliber]

Even if he doesn't, I see no reason to believe WWE's given up on him as a main eventer when his title reign lasted longer than Sheamus' first and had more successful defenses.


Swagger maybe only won all of 4 matches tops while he was champion Sheamus had a better run despite it being shorter they really made him look like a one trick pony as far as I'm concerned.

[Kane Knight]

Swagger maybe only won all of 4 matches tops while he was champion Sheamus had a better run despite it being shorter they really made him look like a one trick pony as far as I'm concerned.

Swagga had trouble just getting the MITB belt. I'm pretty sure it's not WWE's fault he comes off as a one trick pony.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Swagger has been having fantastic matches on SmackDown!. Also, the Money in the Bank winner doesn't get a belt.

[Kane Knight]

Let he without sin, Noid.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Yeah, I'm without sin. You actually need to watch SmackDown! before you diss The Swaggie.

[Kane Knight]

Yes, because that was the line I was commenting on.

[Kane Knight]

Though it's largely hypocritical of Noid to tell someone not to judge someone unless you've been watching him.

Kinda a selective memory there, eh buddy? :)

[Favre4Ever]

Anyone upset with the length/number of wins in Swagger's reign needs to remember that he was borderline irrelevant even a month prior to Mania. Even having a shitty little period with the gold is a HUGE boost for his career.

[Kane Knight]

Anyone upset with the length/number of wins in Swagger's reign needs to remember that he was borderline irrelevant even a month prior to Mania. Even having a shitty little period with the gold is a HUGE boost for his still irrelevant career.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Yes, because that was the line I was commenting on.

Then make it clear, douche.

Though it's largely hypocritical of Noid to tell someone not to judge someone unless you've been watching him.

Kinda a selective memory there, eh buddy? :)

I don't say a guy's run has been shit without watching it. I'll say "he's meant to be pretty good, but I haven't seen much of him." Like how someone tells you a movie is meant to be pretty good or pretty shit. Stop stirring, man. Just appreciate Jack Swagger.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Anyone upset with the length/number of wins in Swagger's reign needs to remember that he was borderline irrelevant even a month prior to Mania. Even having a shitty little period with the gold is a HUGE boost for his career.

Exactly. You also have to consider that Jack Swagger can now lay claim to being a former World Heavyweight Champion. The WWE is not about to let him go to TNA or anything (not that it would change the world, but still). Swagger's got years left, and I'm sure they'll be impressive.

[Kane Knight]

Then make it clear, douche.



I don't say a guy's run has been shit without watching it. I'll say "he's meant to be pretty good, but I haven't seen much of him." Like how someone tells you a movie is meant to be pretty good or pretty shit. Stop stirring, man. Just appreciate Jack Swagger.

I would have made it clear, I just didn't know you were being a hypocrite on two fronts. If I had known you were complaining about prejudice after years of the same on your own behalf, I probably would have noted that too. :)

[Kane Knight]

Seen Swagger. He bores me. You're still a hypocrite for slamming people without watching them, Noid. But it's still irrelevant because you're accusing me of something that isn't true.

[Impeccable]

Maybe they gave him a run with the title to put over the concept of Money in the Bank, given they now have a PPV called Money in the Bank?

Quite a powerful concept if you consider that every MITB winner has gone on to lift a title when cashing in(well, technically not the winner, as Edge challenged Kennedy for the briefcase, but when it was cashed in, it was a title win).

[Mr. Nerfect]

Seen Swagger. He bores me. You're still a hypocrite for slamming people without watching them, Noid. But it's still irrelevant because you're accusing me of something that isn't true.

Yawn. Same ol' autistic shit from the Asperger's kid.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Maybe they gave him a run with the title to put over the concept of Money in the Bank, given they now have a PPV called Money in the Bank?

Quite a powerful concept if you consider that every MITB winner has gone on to lift a title when cashing in(well, technically not the winner, as Edge challenged Kennedy for the briefcase, but when it was cashed in, it was a title win).

This is a fair point, but I'd like to think they'd do both -- put over a guy they want to be World Champion, as well as the concept. Although, now that Swagger has won, it pretty much blows predictions for the match wide open.