Former WWE champion ‘Jack Swagger’ (Jake Hager) signs with Bellator MMA

No one on the corner has swagger like Jake.

As revealed on Monday’s MMA Hour, collegiate wrestling standout Jake Hager, better known as former WWE world champion “Jack Swagger,” has signed an exclusive deal with Bellator MMA to join its heavyweight division.

Hager’s credentials as an amateur were what caused WWE to take interest in him in the first place. In his senior year at the University of Oklahoma, he set a record with 30 pins and earned All-American honors. He was signed to WWE almost immediately after graduation and eventually became its World Heavyweight Champion back in March 2010.

In recent years, Hager was less of a focal point for the promotion, causing him to request and ultimately receive his release in March of this year. Hager worked the independent circuit for a while but teased that he was interested in mixed martial arts in a FloSlam interview.

Even though Bellator has already announced participants for its 2018 heavyweight grand prix, Hager could easily step in as an injury replacement if needed. If that doesn’t materialize, we will just have to wait to see who the former pro wrestler faces first.

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