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Jack Swagger Talks Recently Meeting Kurt Angle, Wanting to Face Him, Who Has Been the Biggest Influence on Swagger’s Career?, More

April 26, 2016

While on tour with WWE in The UK, WWE star Jack Swagger spoke with TheSportBible.com and below are some interview highlights:

You’ve worked with pretty much everyone there is to work with during your time with the WWE. Is there anyone not on that list who you’d want to step into the ring with?

“I recently met Kurt Angle. We were in Pittsburgh and I was working out with R Truth and Kurt was in the same gym. So Truth knows him and he told him I was here and wanted to meet him. It was just before he did the match at that event with Mysterio with all the boxing and MMA fights on the card (laughs). When I first started watching wrestling he was the guy I watched ‘cos he was an amateur and an Olympian and that’s why I watch wrestling, for the technical aspect so yeah, I’d choose Kurt Angle.”

Who’s been the biggest influence on your career?

“I got a pretty good crew that helps keep me sane. Being away from my family a lot, I got two young’uns and it’s tough not seeing them so the people I ride with between shows help me maintain my sanity because it’d very easy to be down and get complacent about things. That’s why you need people who can help to push you and get you through the bumps and stuff. The people who know you and can talk to you are so important. Mike Chioda especially, who’s been a referee in the business for over 30 years has had the biggest influence on my career. When I first broke into the biz I had a few friends say to me to go get tight with ‘Cici’ we call him or ‘Coyote’. I mean, he’s been around since before the first WrestleMania, so anything you need to know about the road or the shows, he’s the man to go to.”

What would you have become if you weren’t a WWE superstar?

“A banker. Or a ‘banker wanker’ as you guys like to call it (laughs)! I just got my masters in business so it’s 10 more years of wrestling and then, I dunno, interest rates I guess (laughs).”

Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.

Nick attended New York University and graduated in 2001 with a degree in Drama.

Nick first entered the internet wrestling community back in 2004 when he became the co-host of The Voice of Wrestling Radio Show. From there, Nick made the transition from radio personality to editor when he began working with WrestleZone in 2008.

Nick is a member of two Off-Broadway theatre companies, Another Urban Riff, and the Drama Desk Award winning Godlight Theatre Company. Nick has appeared in over a dozen Off-Broadway plays since he moved to New York City, and has shot several short and feature length films. In 2010, he completed principle photography on a film titled "How to Score Your Life," which also features TNA Knockout ODB.

Inspiration in his life has come from many people including his family, Woody Allen, Steven Spielberg, Jack Nicholson, The Beatles, and of course, Lassie.