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Why WWE's Jack Swagger Is the Most Underrated Wrestler Today

Posted: Feb 4th 2012 By: mikeiles

After the Royal Rumble, there is a sense of picking up the momentum going into WrestleMania. Stars are often made at that event.

Just look at the stock of Cody Rhodes, which seemed to officially skyrocket following his WrestleMania victory over Rey Mysterio last year. Who will be the next young superstar to officially be summoned to greatness? I have faith in The All-American American and current United States Champion, Jack Swagger.

It has now been three years since Swagger burst onto the scene with the ECW brand and won the brand's championship rather quickly. Swagger came to ECW from FCW, the developmental territory of WWE. At FCW, Swagger, then going by his real name of Jake Hager, was the first Florida Heavyweight Champion in the territory's history.

It was two years ago at this time that Swagger's entire career changed. At WrestleMania XXVI, Swagger won the Money in the Bank ladder match, the last one to be featured at a WrestleMania. He would cash in rather quickly, wasting little time to become World Heavyweight Champion. Swagger would lose the title at Fatal 4-Way and lose a rematch at Money in the Bank. In a matter of months, Swagger had gone from rising star to world champion to ex-world champion. Following the loss, Swagger was seemingly gone from the title picture.

It wouldn't be until aligning with Vickie Guerrero that Jack Swagger's career was revitalized. He was looped into the Michael Cole/Jerry Lawler feud during last year's WrestleMania, which was probably a test of his loyalty to the company. Swagger passed and was rewarded, while a guy like John Morrison failed and was sent packing.

Swagger now stands as United States Champion, benefiting from the lack of success following Internet sensation Zack Ryder winning the title after months of build up. Ryder's long-anticipated victory did not yield good results with ratings, so a change was made.

As the U.S. Champion, Swagger stands to make a big splash with the title that mirrors his gimmick. This title should have been put on Swagger years ago. It matches his personality and, as a heel, Swagger can use the accolade to preach about how American he is, generating major heat from the crowd. With or without Ryder as a challenger, Swagger could have a long reign with the title as he brings more prestige to the title. Dolph Ziggler, an ally of Swagger's, did a nice job in doing that. Swagger can continue that legacy and make the United States Championship a big deal.

No matter how Jack Swagger gets used in 2012, he will be used in a beneficial manner. Swagger has the size, speed, youth and now experience to get anything done. If Swagger can get over as an opponent to John Cena on RAW and then have matches with Jerry Lawler during house shows, it shows the range that Swagger has in the ring. His abilities are not even fully tapped at this point. Swagger turns 30 at the end of March.

He may not be adored by many or have a lot of fans on the message boards, but Jack Swagger is an unsung hero. If there is a spot where you need to get someone over, throw Swagger in as their opponent and they will deliver results. The only guy that I can recall having difficulty with getting over in matches with Jack Swagger was Alex Riley and, outside of Royal Rumble, you barely see him.

While Ziggler and Rhodes, among others, have gotten all of the attention as young rising stars, it is a stock like Swagger's that will be going through the roof. As these young guns rise up and get the praise that they deserve, Swagger will continue to build his career back up. It shows a lot of poise for a amateur wrestler in his 20s to break into pro wrestling, get built up, get torn down, and still want to get built back up again.

Swagger is the company guy that WWE wants right now. He isn't exactly kissing any rear ends, but his attitude about the business is good enough that it would have saved other superstars' careers if they had one similar to it. Billed at 6'7" and weighing 260 pounds, Swagger is still growing physically. By the end of his career, this guy could be one of the strongest superstars WWE has had in quite some time.

If WWE continues to gain more and more faith and reinvest back into Jack Swagger, there will be some success for all parties involved. His lisp might have seemed like a problem during his development, but it now sticks out as a unique quality from his character, separating him from everyone else. As Swagger's mic skills improve, fans will soon know that it is Swagger on the microphone just from hearing his voice. It is that iconic type of effect that every superstar dreams of in WWE.

All of the pieces are here for Jack Swagger to build and create a good place for him in WWE. The potential is still there and the sky is the limit for The All-American American. Remember how Swagger is right now when you view him in a year or two as one of the top superstars in WWE and the world of professional wrestling.

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