Bellator signs former WWE champion, college wrestling standout

[OctoberRed]

Bellator is getting some much-needed swagger.

Jack Swagger, that is.

The MMA promotion has signed former WWE star Jake Hager, better known by his ring name Jack Swagger, to compete in its heavyweight division, Hager announced Monday on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani. Swagger said he’ll be making his debut in 2018.

Hager, 35, performed with WWE or its development territories for 11 years before being granted his release back in March. He’s a former WWE World Heavyweight champion and U.S. champion.

In legitimate competition, Hager was a standout at the University of Oklahoma as a wrestler. He set the Oklahoma single-season record for most pins in a season with 30 in 2006. He was also an All-American that year in the 129kg (285 pounds) weight class.

Hager, an Oklahoma native and Florida resident, has yet to make his MMA debut. Last month, he told FloSlam that he could be interested in one day fighting in mixed martial arts.

Hager transitioning to MMA continues a long tradition of pro wrestlers and fighters going back and forth between the two mediums.

[Anthony342]

Kind of late to start in the sport. How good he does will probably depend on if he can learn some boxing or kickboxing.

[Combat Talk Radio]

Bellator is getting some much-needed swagger.

Jack Swagger, that is.

The MMA promotion has signed former WWE star Jake Hager, better known by his ring name Jack Swagger, to compete in its heavyweight division, Hager announced Monday on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani. Swagger said he’ll be making his debut in 2018.

Hager, 35, performed with WWE or its development territories for 11 years before being granted his release back in March. He’s a former WWE World Heavyweight champion and U.S. champion.

In legitimate competition, Hager was a standout at the University of Oklahoma as a wrestler. He set the Oklahoma single-season record for most pins in a season with 30 in 2006. He was also an All-American that year in the 129kg (285 pounds) weight class.

Hager, an Oklahoma native and Florida resident, has yet to make his MMA debut. Last month, he told FloSlam that he could be interested in one day fighting in mixed martial arts.

Hager transitioning to MMA continues a long tradition of pro wrestlers and fighters going back and forth between the two mediums.

This isn't going to end well for him. IT really isn't, and I do like the guy as a human being.

Plus the fact UFC will never do this for him anyway:

[OctoberRed]

CM Punk 2.0

[RomanReigns]

CM Punk 2.0

Swagger is a legit college wrestler. He beat Cain Velasquez twice. CM Punk doesn't have an amateur background. And the Heavyweights in Bellators kinda sucks.

and besides brock is not only the legit wrestler in the wwe.

dolph ziggler, chad gable, and jason jordan are solid amateur wrestlers.

Bellator is probably going to feed him a jobber in his first fight.

[Willy Wanker]

I wish Jack Swagger the best.

I've always liked him even though I hated his face and voice for some reason. WWE never really used him right. They didn't focus on his strengths and tried to force him to be a character he wasn't. By the time he seemed to find his niche it was too little too late.

He's a little old to try to make it as a top MMA fighter, but he's in Bellator so he could at least be a big name and attraction there, like Bobby Lashley.