Jake Hager
Donald Jacob Hager Jr. (born March 24, 1982), professionally known as Jack Swagger in WWE and Jake Hager elsewhere, is an American retired professional wrestler, former mixed martial artist, and accomplished amateur wrestler.[1][2] Hager gained prominence in WWE from 2008 to 2017, debuting on the ECW brand as Jack Swagger and rapidly ascending to win the ECW Championship in 2009, the United States Championship, and the World Heavyweight Championship in 2010 after cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase victory from WrestleMania XXVI.[1][3] Transitioning to mixed martial arts, Hager signed with Bellator MMA in 2018, compiling an undefeated professional record of 3-0 with one no contest before retiring from MMA in 2023.[4][5] In 2019, he joined All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as Jake Hager, aligning with Chris Jericho's Inner Circle stable and competing until his contract expired in 2024, after which he announced his retirement from professional wrestling to focus on operating a trucking company in Florida.[6][7] Prior to his pro career, Hager was a two-time All-American collegiate wrestler at the University of Oklahoma and played football there, reflecting his foundational athletic background in freestyle and folkstyle wrestling.[1]Early life and amateur wrestling
Childhood and education
Donald Jacob Hager Jr. was born on March 24, 1982, in Perry, Oklahoma.[8] He began wrestling at the age of five and continued through high school at Perry High School, a program known for its wrestling prowess.[9] During this period, Hager trained alongside the grandson of legendary wrestler Danny Hodge, with whom he developed a close friendship.[10] Hager attended the University of Oklahoma, where he competed as a two-sport athlete in wrestling and football, initially as a defensive tackle.[1] He focused primarily on wrestling after his sophomore year, earning NCAA All-American honors.[11] Hager graduated in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in finance.[12]Collegiate wrestling career and achievements
Hager enrolled at the University of Oklahoma as a two-sport athlete, participating in both football as a defensive tackle and wrestling at the heavyweight division.[1][9] He transitioned to wrestling full-time during his sophomore year, forgoing football to focus on the mat.[1][12] In the 2005–2006 season, competing at 285 pounds (129 kg), Hager achieved 30 pins, establishing the University of Oklahoma's single-season record for most pins by a heavyweight wrestler.[1][13] This performance earned him NCAA Division I All-American honors, marking his sole such distinction at the collegiate level.[1][14] Hager's pin record underscored his technical pinning ability and dominance in folkstyle wrestling, contributing to his reputation as a standout Sooner athlete before graduating with a bachelor's degree in finance in 2006.[3][10]Professional wrestling career
World Wrestling Entertainment (2006–2017)
Hager signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment in mid-2006 after a tryout and began training at Deep South Wrestling, making his in-ring debut there in September 2006. He later transitioned to Florida Championship Wrestling, WWE's other developmental territory, where he refined his skills over the next two years.[10] On September 9, 2008, Hager debuted on WWE's ECW brand under the ring name Jack Swagger, defeating a local competitor in a squash match and quickly positioning himself as a dominant technician leveraging his amateur wrestling background. Swagger captured the ECW Championship on the January 13, 2009, episode of ECW, defeating Matt Hardy in the main event to claim his first WWE title after just four months on the main roster; he held the championship for 103 days until losing it to Christian on April 26, 2009.[15][16][16] Following the conclusion of the ECW brand in February 2010, Swagger briefly appeared on Raw before the April 2010 WWE Draft. Swagger was drafted to the SmackDown brand on the April 2, 2010, episode and defeated World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho later that night to win the title for the first time, aided by interference from Vickie Guerrero, with whom he had aligned. He defended the championship successfully against challengers including Randy Orton at Extreme Rules on April 25, 2010, but lost it to Rey Mysterio in a fatal four-way match at Fatal 4-Way on June 20, 2010. Over the subsequent years, Swagger competed across brands in mid-card feuds, occasionally challenging for secondary titles and participating in multi-man matches, though he did not recapture world title gold. In early 2013, Swagger formed an alliance with manager Zeb Colter (portrayed by Dutch Mantel), debuting the pairing on February 11, 2013, and adopting a patriotic "Real American" persona that emphasized nativism and opposition to immigration, drawing from Colter's Vietnam War veteran backstory. This gimmick led to tag team success, including Swagger partnering with Cesaro as The Real Americans, but the alliance faltered amid creative shifts and injuries. By 2017, amid stalled momentum and a desire to pursue mixed martial arts, Hager requested his release, which WWE granted on March 13, 2017.[17][18]Independent circuit and other promotions (2017–2019)
Following his release from WWE on March 13, 2017, Hager resumed professional wrestling under the ring name Jack Swagger on the independent circuit.[3] He announced his participation in the House of Hardcore 2017 Australian tour, consisting of four events: June 17 in Sydney, June 18 in Brisbane, June 23 in Melbourne, and June 24 in Adelaide.[10] At the Brisbane show, Swagger lost to MVP in a singles match.[19] In Adelaide, he competed in an untelevised bout as part of the tour's lineup featuring international talent.[20] Prior to the tour, Swagger debuted for Upstate Pro Wrestling (UPW) on May 12, 2017, at Anniversary Anarchy 15 in Webster, New York, defeating Bill Collier via pinfall.[21] Later that year, on October 28, he defeated Sami Callihan in a singles match at a House of Hardcore event.[22] Hager's 2018 appearances remained limited, including a match on January 27 for Pennsylvania Premier Wrestling (PPW).[10] His wrestling schedule during this period was curtailed by his transition to mixed martial arts, with a Bellator MMA debut in June 2018, leading to a de facto hiatus from in-ring competition by 2019 ahead of his All Elite Wrestling signing.[23] No major championship pursuits or extended storylines were reported on the independents, reflecting a transitional phase focused on select bookings.[24]All Elite Wrestling (2019–2024)
Jake Hager signed with All Elite Wrestling in August 2019.[25] He made his promotional debut on the inaugural episode of AEW Dynamite on October 2, 2019, aligning with Chris Jericho by attacking The Young Bucks, Dustin Rhodes, and Cody Rhodes following Jericho's match.[26] This appearance marked the formation of the Inner Circle stable, which included Hager as the enforcer alongside Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Santana, and Ortiz.[27] The group positioned itself as AEW's dominant faction, engaging in rivalries such as the extended feud with The Pinnacle in 2021.[28] As part of the Inner Circle, Hager participated in multi-man matches and faction warfare, including the Blood & Guts match against The Pinnacle on May 5, 2021, where his team lost, leading to a subsequent steel cage match on Dynamite on May 12, 2021, in which Hager submitted to MJF.[29] The Inner Circle secured a victory over The Pinnacle in a five-on-five match at Double or Nothing on May 30, 2021, with Jericho pinning MJF to retain the AEW World Championship.[30] Hager's in-ring contributions emphasized his power-based style and submission holds, such as the Anaconda Squeeze, though he did not capture any singles or tag team titles during this period.[29] Following internal tensions, the Inner Circle disbanded in late 2021 after Jericho and Hager turned on Santana and Ortiz.[31] Hager then joined the Jericho Appreciation Society in January 2022, serving again as the muscle for Jericho's new group, which included Daniel Garcia, Angelo Parker, Matt Menard, and Cool Hand Ang.[32] The faction feuded with Eddie Kingston and Blackpool Combat Club, culminating in events like the Six-Man Tag Team Ladder match at Revolution on March 6, 2022, though Hager's role remained supportive rather than championship-oriented.[29] He signed a contract extension with AEW in September 2022, as announced by Jericho.[27] In later years, Hager's appearances diminished, with sporadic matches including a loss to Wardlow for the AEW TNT Championship on the June 14, 2023, episode of Dynamite.[29] The Jericho Appreciation Society disbanded following losses in 2023, after which Hager transitioned to occasional enhancement bouts and dark matches.[33] His contract expired in June 2024, concluding a five-year tenure primarily defined by faction allegiance rather than individual accolades.[34]Retirement and post-wrestling transition (2024–2025)
Hager's final televised match in All Elite Wrestling occurred on February 11, 2024, when he lost to Roderick Strong on an episode of Rampage.[35] Following this, he ceased appearing on AEW programming and departed the promotion in May 2024 upon the expiration of his contract, after reportedly feeling disrespected during renewal negotiations.[36] [37] After leaving AEW, Hager competed in a limited number of independent wrestling events, with his last documented match taking place in November 2024.[38] In an August 7, 2025, interview on Saraya's podcast, Hager explicitly stated his retirement from professional wrestling, declaring, "I'm getting out of wrestling. I pretty much—I could say I'm retired from it."[6] [37] He attributed his decision to a sense of being "jaded" with the industry and expressed regret over prioritizing wrestling over mixed martial arts during his AEW tenure.[28] In transitioning away from wrestling, Hager established a trucking business in Florida, named Hall Oates Haulin, focusing on logistics and transportation services.[6] [39] By September 2025, he had publicly dismissed speculation of a return to WWE or any further in-ring activity, emphasizing his commitment to this new venture.[40]Mixed martial arts career
Bellator MMA debut and fights (2017–2023)
Hager made his professional MMA debut for Bellator on January 26, 2019, at Bellator 214 in Inglewood, California, submitting J.W. Kiser via arm-triangle choke at 2:09 of the first round.[41][42] Kiser, entering with a 1-1 record, was controlled on the ground after an early takedown, where Hager landed elbows before securing the finish.[43] In his second appearance, Hager faced T.J. Jones at Bellator 221 on May 11, 2019, in Rosemont, Illinois, again winning by arm-triangle choke submission, this time at 2:36 of the first round.[44][45] Jones, a 1-1 fighter from a beef processing background, was dominated on the mat despite some initial resistance, though the submission drew crowd boos for a perceived late tap-out.[46] Hager's next scheduled bout at Bellator 231 on October 25, 2019, against Anthony Garrett ended in a no contest at 1:56 of the first round due to an unintentional low blow delivered by Hager.[47][48] Referee Dan Miragliotta ruled the infraction accidental after Garrett collapsed in pain, halting the fight without resumption.[47] Returning after a year-long layoff, Hager defeated Brandon Calton by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) at Bellator 250 on October 29, 2020, in Uncasville, Connecticut, following a competitive three-round heavyweight matchup.[49] Calton pressed with striking and grappling attempts, but Hager's wrestling base edged out the verdict despite a close third round.[49] These contests yielded Hager a Bellator record of 3–0 with one no contest, all in the heavyweight division.[5] No additional fights materialized before his 2023 retirement announcement.[4]Retirement from MMA
Jake Hager formally announced his retirement from mixed martial arts on September 21, 2023, following a four-fight stint with Bellator MMA that left him with an undefeated professional record of 3 wins and 1 no contest.[51][5] In a public statement, Hager expressed frustration with Bellator's handling of his career, accusing the promotion of repeatedly delaying bouts and failing to deliver on promised opportunities despite his unbeaten status, which he described as the organization "jerking me off."[51] His final fight occurred on October 29, 2020, at Bellator 250, where he defeated Brandon Calton via split decision after three rounds, marking his only victory by judges' scorecards in a career otherwise highlighted by two submission wins.[52][4] Hager's MMA tenure began in 2018 with a debut submission victory over Ray Spong at Bellator 214 on January 26, 2019, followed by another submission win against J.D. Howard in September 2019 and a no contest against Alen Amedovski in October 2019 due to an accidental eye poke.[4] Despite entering MMA as a professional wrestler seeking to prove his legitimacy in combat sports, Hager cited a lack of consistent matchmaking and perceived unprofessionalism from Bellator as key factors in his decision to retire at age 41, rather than any in-ring defeats.[53] He emphasized that his undefeated record stood as validation of his skills, though opportunities to advance toward title contention never materialized.[54] Post-retirement, Hager shifted focus entirely to professional wrestling with All Elite Wrestling until his separate exit from that industry in August 2025.[37]Championships and accomplishments
Amateur wrestling honors
Hager began competitive amateur wrestling at age five in Perry, Oklahoma, and achieved early success by winning the Oklahoma high school state championship in 2000 while competing for Perry High School.[12] At the University of Oklahoma, where he wrestled in the heavyweight division after initially participating in football, Hager set the school's single-season record for most pins with 30 during the 2006 season.[55][13] That same year, as a senior, he earned NCAA Division I All-American honors by placing seventh at the national championships.[12]Professional wrestling titles
Hager secured his first WWE title by defeating Matt Hardy on the January 13, 2009, episode of ECW to win the ECW Championship, which he held for 103 days.[56] On March 30, 2010, at WrestleMania XXVI, he cashed in the Money in the Bank briefcase on Chris Jericho following Jericho's match with Edge to capture the World Heavyweight Championship, defending it successfully at Extreme Rules and Over the Limit before losing to Rey Mysterio on June 20, 2010, at Fatal 4-Way after a 77-day reign.[57] Hager won the WWE United States Championship from Zack Ryder on the January 16, 2012, episode of Raw, holding it for 49 days until Santino Marella defeated him on the March 5, 2012, episode of Raw.[58] Prior to his main roster debut, Hager captured the FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship in WWE's developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling.[29] On the independent circuit following his WWE release, he claimed the 5 Star Wrestling Championship and All Star Wrestling Heavyweight Championship.[3] Hager did not win any championships during his tenure in All Elite Wrestling from 2019 to 2024.[59]MMA record and statistics
Jake Hager's professional MMA career spanned four bouts under the Bellator MMA banner, resulting in an undefeated record of 3–0 with one no contest.[4][5] All fights occurred in the heavyweight division between January 2019 and October 2020.[52] His victories consisted of two submissions via guillotine choke in the first round and one split decision, with no knockouts or technical knockouts recorded.[4]| Result | Opponent | Event | Date | Round | Time | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Brandon Calton | Bellator 250 | October 29, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Decision (Split) |
| NC | Anthony Garrett | Bellator 231 | October 25, 2019 | 1 | 0:18 | No Contest (Illegal Knees to Groin) |
| Win | T.J. Jones | Bellator 221 | May 11, 2019 | 1 | 1:56 | Submission (Guillotine Choke) |
| Win | J.W. Kiser | Bellator 214 | January 26, 2019 | 1 | 0:54 | Submission (Guillotine Choke) |