In an interview with The Telegraph, former WWE World Champion Jack Swagger talked about using his WWE moniker for his Bellator debut tonight, “Right now it’s going to be Jake Hager, that’s what the billboard will say. But in the future I hope to fight under Jack Swagger.”
Swagger also told Sporting News, “As far as the Jack Swagger name, they [WWE] do not have it trademarked. I’m in the process of trademarking the name. I know there’s a singer who has it trademarked for musical performances. But, this isn’t music (laughs). I think I have a good chance of owning it down the line. I won’t have the name for this fight, but hopefully, by the second fight it will be Jack Swagger.”
Whether he goes by Swagger or Hager, Jack’s goal remains the same. He plans on making MMA ‘great again,’ “I’m making MMA great again for pro wrestlers. I don’t know if I’m trying to confuse MMA fans who are new to me with four different names, but it’s a work in progress. I definitely want to bring that persona, charisma and character into the cage.”
Fans shouldn’t expect Swagger to be nervous for tonight’s debut, “The nerves with WWE performance is more the live television angles because we have time limits and have storylines we want to get through in that time. You’re going to forget a lot about the spots. But for me, I don’t know whether it’s because I’m getting paid, because in college I would get anxious, but right now I know I’m in the best shape of my life. This is the best shape I’ve ever been in, at 36 years old. There was a lot of arguments with my coaches about running, but I finally shut up and did the work. I feel like that confidence is why I’m not nervous. I don’t feel any pressure.”
Swagger debuts against J.W. Kiser at tonight’s Bellator 214 event.
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