Jake Hager attended the University of Oklahoma as a two-sport athlete, participating in both football and wrestling.
40 Facts About Jake Hager
2.
Jake Hager 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.
3.
Jake Hager left the company in 2017 after he decided to pursue a professional mixed martial arts career.
4.
Jake Hager wrestled in high school with Danny Hodge's grandson and remains good friends with Hodge as he grew up living two blocks away from him in Perry, Oklahoma.
5.
Jake Hager was the second-string defensive tackle behind eventual National Football League players Tommie Harris and Dusty Dvoracek.
6.
Jake Hager stopped playing football and concentrated fully on wrestling his sophomore year.
7.
Jake Hager was named an All-American at season's end while setting the Oklahoma record for most pins in a single season with 30.
8.
In 2006, Jake Hager graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor's degree in finance.
9.
In 2006, Jake Hager had a WWE tryout in Deep South Wrestling, and in September 2006, under his real name, he made his in-ring debut for DSW, defeating Antonio Mestre in a dark match.
10.
Jake Hager competed mainly in dark matches before being moved to Ohio Valley Wrestling in January 2007.
11.
Jake Hager began teaming with a multitude of opponents to feud with James and his tag team partner Cassidy James.
12.
On February 15,2008, at the Florida State Fair in Tampa, Florida, Jake Hager and Ted DiBiase Jr.
13.
On March 22,2008, Jake Hager went against the FCW Southern Heavyweight Champion Heath Miller in New Port Richey, Florida to determine the true Heavyweight Champion.
14.
Jake Hager later defended the championship against Miller, TJ Wilson, James Curtis, and Gabe Tuft.
15.
On September 9,2008, Jake Hager made his debut on the ECW brand under the ring name Jack Swagger, winning a match against a local competitor.
16.
Jake Hager immediately established himself as a heel by starting a feud with Tommy Dreamer.
17.
Jake Hager later defeated Dreamer in a normal match and an "Amateur Wrestling Challenge" competition.
18.
Jake Hager attempted to regain the title against Christian at Judgment Day and in a triple threat hardcore match at Extreme Rules involving Dreamer but was unsuccessful in both attempts.
19.
Jake Hager then feuded with MVP for several weeks, culminating at SummerSlam, in a match that MVP won.
20.
Jake Hager won the Elimination Chamber match to become the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship.
21.
On March 1,2017, Jake Hager announced on Chael Sonnen's podcast that he had requested his release from WWE.
22.
Two days later, WWE issued a statement saying that Jake Hager had not been granted his release.
23.
Jake Hager returned to professional wrestling on the independent circuit in 2017.
24.
Jake Hager announced that he would be joining the House of Hardcore 2017 Australian tour.
25.
In February 2018, Jake Hager joined 5 Star Wrestling and won the heavyweight title, defeating John Morrison.
26.
On November 24,2018, Jake Hager unsuccessfully challenged Nick Aldis for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleCade: SuperShow.
27.
On May 3,2018, Jake Hager made his Major League Wrestling debut against Jeff Cobb.
28.
On October 2,2019, Jake Hager debuted in All Elite Wrestling on the inaugural episode of Dynamite, aligning himself with Chris Jericho, Santana and Ortiz, and Sammy Guevara by helping them take out The Young Bucks, Cody, and Dustin Rhodes in the aftermath of the main event.
29.
Jake Hager's in-ring debut match for AEW occurred on February 29,2020, at Revolution, where he defeated Dustin Rhodes.
30.
The rivalry resulted in an Empty Arena No Holds Barred match for the AEW World Championship at April 15,2020 episode of Dynamite, which Jake Hager lost to Moxley, marking his first loss in AEW.
31.
On November 13,2017, Jake Hager announced that he had signed to fight for Bellator MMA as part of their heavyweight division.
32.
Jake Hager won the fight via submission at 2:09 of the first round.
33.
Jake Hager again won the fight via an arm-triangle choke in the first round.
34.
Controversy surrounded the bout when Jake Hager held on to the choke for several seconds after Jones had tapped.
35.
The bout ended in a no contest early into the first round after Jake Hager landed two unintentional groin strikes to Garrett, the latter one rendering Garrett unable to continue.
36.
Jake Hager faced Brandon Calton at Bellator 250 on October 29,2020.
37.
On February 19,2013, Jake Hager was arrested in Gulfport, Mississippi, after a SmackDown taping.
38.
Jake Hager was charged with driving under the influence and possession of marijuana.
39.
Jake Hager was released from custody after the arrest and was ordered to appear in court on March 12,2013.
40.
Jake Hager was then scheduled to stand trial on June 25,2013, in Mississippi.