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Jack Swagger: Sorting out WWE's World Title Picture in Light of DUI Arrest

Posted: Feb 21st 2013 By: mikeiles

The professional wrestling world has been taken by storm with the news of Jack Swagger's arrest in Biloxi, Miss. His WWE future is suddenly very much in question, and the creative team could be in a position where it needs to scramble and develop a new WrestleMania feud for World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio.

According to TMZ.com, Swagger was pulled over and arrested on Tuesday night following the WWE SmackDown taping. It is alleged that Swagger was driving under the influence and that he was in possession of marijuana.

All of the particulars are unclear at this point, but alcohol reportedly was not a factor; Swagger was ultimately released on his own recognizance.

There is no doubt that this entire situation looks bad for Swagger, but we still don't know how the WWE will decide to handle it.

There is some precedence in a situation such as this one with Rob Van Dam being arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and Vicodin pills in 2006. Van Dam was both WWE and ECW Champion at the time, but he was forced to drop the titles and was subsequently suspended for 30 days.

As bad as that sounds, the penalty could potentially be even worse for Swagger. According to the WWE's substance abuse and drug testing policy, a talent who is arrested, charged or admits to drug possession or use is in breach of contract and could be terminated at the company's discretion.

The WWE also reserves the right to punish Swagger in the same manner as someone who violated a drug test would be punished, despite the fact that Swagger hasn't failed a test.

I don't want to speculate on what will happen with Swagger since all the facts have yet to come out and since I can't speak for WWE management, but my gut tells me that the best-case scenario for him is a 30-day suspension, and it would be really tough to keep him in the world title picture if that ends up being the case.

Since this is Swagger's first offense of any kind, hopefully there is some leniency and he is at least allowed to keep his job.

As much as I would love to see the WWE let this slide to some degree and allow Swagger to continue pursuing the World Heavyweight Championship, Swagger made a huge mistake at the worst possible time.

Coming off an Elimination Chamber win and developing an intriguing gimmick alongside Zeb Colter, it seemed like Swagger was ascending back to main-event status; however, that may no longer be the case.

If Swagger is stripped of his World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania, as I unfortunately expect him to be, the WWE will have to follow up with a contingency plan.

Prior to Swagger's recent run of dominance, I pegged Mark Henry as the favorite to win the chamber match and face Del Rio on the big stage. There are quite a few candidates who could step in for Swagger, but I consider Henry to be the best.

Regardless of who Del Rio faces at WrestleMania, the expectation is that he will win. The WWE has spent a lot of time building Del Rio into a fan favorite by having him vanquish Big Show. It's almost as if the WWE is aiming to make him a giant killer of sorts.

That makes Henry the ideal stand-in for Swagger, as he is easily one of the most physically imposing superstars on the entire roster.

In addition to that, it doesn't appear as though Henry has any type of solid storyline in place at the moment. The Great Khali came out to challenge him on Raw, and Henry proceeded to mock him.

I'm quite sure that nobody actually wants to see Khali compete in a match at WrestleMania, so getting Henry away from him and having him face Del Rio instead would be great for The World's Strongest Man.

Although I actually prefer Henry to Del Rio and would like to see him win the title, I fully understand the situation at hand. The goal is to make Del Rio look as strong as possible, so Henry will have to put him over if Swagger is removed from his perch.

This could also set the stage for a potential Dolph Ziggler cash-in with an angry Henry attacking Del Rio following the match.

There is no shortage of possibilities aside from Henry, though, as there are many potential contenders waiting for a shot.

Randy Orton and Chris Jericho are both options, but since they are faces, it seems unlikely. There is also a chance that Ziggler cashes in on Del Rio between now and WrestleMania to set up a singles match between them instead. If nothing else, the WWE is lucky that it has a lot of depth on the current roster.

Henry has never had a world title match at WrestleMania, but he has put so much time and effort into the business that he deserves one.

The WWE is in an incredibly tough position right now and I won't fault the company regardless of what it decides. This is totally a judgment call and it couldn't have come at a more vital time.

As a fan of Swagger, my hope is that some type of agreement will be reached that will allow him to remain No. 1 contender. That is probably wishful thinking at this point, though. If Swagger is punished as many expect him to be, then Henry should be the next man up to face Del Rio at 'Mania.

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Mississippi Title
1982 David Von Erich def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
2014 Simply Irresistible (Matthew Palmer & James Johnson) def. The Dark Circle (Mace Malone & Apoc) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
2015 Loaded Guns (Jon Cross & Brandon Walker) def. The Rising (Riker & Abel) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
2015 Brian Breaker def. Clint Cassidy for the UWE United States Title
2015 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
2015 Jon Cross became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
2019 MVP became the WCR Imperial Champion
2020 Pastor Brent became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
2021 Maui Mike def. Thrash for the ASP Mid-American Title
2021 Brixton Barricade def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
2021 Malik Mayfield def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP Livestream Title
2021 Double D def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP 5-Star Title

Week of Sun 09-13 to Sat: 09-19

09-13 1967 Brute Bernard def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-13 1974 Jose Lothario def. El Gran Markus for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-13 1987 Eric Embry became the WCCW World Light Heavyweight Champion
09-13 2008 Dustin Heritage def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Title
09-13 2008 Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) def. Nathan Sensation & Striker for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-13 2008 Shawn Sanders def. Kevin Morgan for the OECW Heavyweight Title
09-13 2008 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
09-13 2009 3rd Rail def. Maniac Mike for the SWCW Hardcore Title
09-13 2009 Maniac Mike became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
09-13 2014 J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf became the NAW Tag Team Champions
09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf for the NAW Tag Team Titles
09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Running Wolf) became the NAW Tag Team Champions
09-13 2020 Dimitri Alexandrov def. O’Brien for the ASP Heavyweight Title
09-13 2025 Michael H became the NAW Openweight Champion
09-13 2025 Jupiter Jones def. Frankie Lee for the RDW Iron Man Title
09-13 2025 Sgt. Hartman def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-13 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Sgt. Hartman for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-13 2026 Tuff Love (Cade Lovee & Cole Lung) def. GBA (Drake Gallows & Colton Kinnamon) for the RDW Tag Team Titles
09-13 2026 Nate Bourne def. Ricky Wingrave for the RDW Iron Man Title
09-13 2026 Malik Mayfield def. Will Chambers for the UWO Heavyweight Title
09-13 2026 Lunchador def. Max Leon for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-13 2026 Max Leon def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-14 2007 Dane Griffin def. Montego Seeka for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
09-14 2007 Dane Griffin became the UWF06 Texhoma Champion
09-14 2013 Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-14 2013 The Oakhurst Fire Mafia (Chief Mike & Keebler) def. The P. I. N. K. Nation (Ray Martinez & Tommy Toops) for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
09-14 2019 MVP def. Chavo Guerrero, Jr. for the WCR Heavyweight Title
09-14 2024 Original Renegade became the NAW Openweight Champion
09-14 2024 Umbra def. Trench Blythe for the WAH Spotlight Title
09-14 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-14 2024 Jean-Claude def. Eddie LeVaughn for the WAH Heavyweight Title
09-14 2024 Manico def. Billie the Kiid for the NAW Indigenous Land Title
09-14 2024 Jeb Bingham def. Jastin Taylor for the BCW Heavyweight Title
09-15 1969 The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-15 1980 Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-15 1986 Black Bart def. Chris Adams for the WCCW World Title
09-15 2007 Sudden Impact (Sudden Impact 1 & Sudden Impact 2) def. Texas, Inc. (Bernard Funk & Tim Rockwell) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
09-15 2007 Anthony Jackson def. AWOL for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-15 2007 Shane Morbid def. Justin Lee for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
09-15 2012 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
09-15 2018 Chavo Guerrero, Jr. def. MVP for the WCR Heavyweight Title
09-15 2019 Chaz Sharpe def. James Southard for the ASP Inter-County Title
09-15 2023 Jastin Taylor def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Heavyweight Title
09-16 1975 John Tolos def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
09-16 1988 Michael Hayes & Steve Cox def. The Samoan SWAT Team (Fatu & Samu) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
09-16 2005 Lily McKenzie def. Chiquita Suzuki for the SRPW Womens Title
09-16 2006 Michael Barry def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
09-16 2006 Ryan Davidson became the IZW Impact Division Champion
09-16 2017 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Womens Title
09-16 2017 Skyler Fayden def. Riker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
09-16 2017 Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter became the UWE Tag Team Champions
09-16 2022 Shane Taylor def. Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
09-16 2023 Red James def. Ozzy Hendrix for the EPW Internet Television Title
09-17 1979 The Spoiler & Mark Lewin def. Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
09-17 2004 Bobby Dalton def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Title
09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCB Heavyweight Champion
09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCB Dual Kombat Champion
09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCBW Heavyweight Champion
09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCBW Dual Kombat Champion
09-17 2010 Dane Griffin def. Cody Jones for the NWA-OK Texoma Title
09-17 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Montego Seeka) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
09-17 2010 Michael Faith def. Dane Griffin for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
09-17 2016 Mr. Nasty def. Brian Breaker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
09-17 2026 T. J. Spade became the ASP WTF Champion
09-18 1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-18 2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
09-18 2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
09-18 2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
09-18 2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-18 2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title
09-19 1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Mississippi Title
09-19 1982 David Von Erich def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
09-19 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
09-19 2014 Simply Irresistible (Matthew Palmer & James Johnson) def. The Dark Circle (Mace Malone & Apoc) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
09-19 2015 Loaded Guns (Jon Cross & Brandon Walker) def. The Rising (Riker & Abel) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
09-19 2015 Brian Breaker def. Clint Cassidy for the UWE United States Title
09-19 2015 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
09-19 2015 Jon Cross became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
09-19 2019 MVP became the WCR Imperial Champion
09-19 2020 Pastor Brent became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
09-19 2021 Maui Mike def. Thrash for the ASP Mid-American Title
09-19 2021 Brixton Barricade def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
09-19 2021 Malik Mayfield def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP Livestream Title
09-19 2021 Double D def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP 5-Star Title

09-19

Adam Asher Sep 19th Today!
Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th Today!
Jerry Brisco Sep 19th Today!
Justin Lee Sep 20th
Joey Stixx Sep 20th
Pepper Martin Sep 20th
Boz Sep 20th
Ethan Page Sep 20th
Greg Valentine Sep 20th
Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
Bishop Simon Sep 20th
Chuck Singer Sep 20th
Ricky Morton Sep 21st
Connor Jones Sep 21st
Jack Brisco Sep 21st
Harley D Sep 22nd
Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
Doug Somers Sep 22nd
Red River Brawler Sep 22nd
Satine Sep 22nd
Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd
O'Malley Sep 23rd
Jason Bruce Sep 24th
Kai Fayden Sep 24th
Clayton Bloodstone Sep 24th
Connor Crunk Sep 24th
John J. Bishop Sep 24th
Len Rossi Sep 24th
Joe Jones Sep 24th
Chief Mike Sep 25th
Jimmy Garvin Sep 25th
Toots Estes Sep 25th
Angel [2nd] Sep 25th
Chris Matthews Sep 26th
Jhamil O$Neal Sep 26th
Ka$haNova Sep 26th
BB Sep 26th
Clifton Clinstock Sep 26th
Kendo Nagasaki Sep 26th
Lone Eagle Sep 26th
Ben Miller Sep 27th
Tyler Cordingley Sep 27th
Angel Camacho Sep 27th
Alec Bisogno Sep 27th
Trey Count Sep 28th
Kamille Sep 28th
Tommy Prince Sep 28th
Rip Tyler Sep 28th
Billy Ray [2nd] Sep 28th
Scott Lee Sep 28th
David Sammartino Sep 29th
Bang Bang Bennett Sep 29th
Ann Casey Sep 29th
Skandar Akbar Sep 29th
Lady Starwind Sep 30th
Kidd Riggs Sep 30th
Raymon Downey Sep 30th
Marlboro Slim Sep 30th
Seth Coburn Sep 30th
Fred Urban Sep 30th
Hector Guerrero Oct 1st
Abilene Maverick Oct 2nd
Funnybone Oct 2nd
Cold Blooded Chris Oct 2nd
Mike Foxx Oct 2nd
Abilene Maverick Oct 2nd
James Southard Oct 2nd
Waldo Von Erich Oct 2nd

1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Mississippi Title
1982 David Von Erich def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
2014 Simply Irresistible (Matthew Palmer & James Johnson) def. The Dark Circle (Mace Malone & Apoc) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
2015 Loaded Guns (Jon Cross & Brandon Walker) def. The Rising (Riker & Abel) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
2015 Brian Breaker def. Clint Cassidy for the UWE United States Title
2015 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
2015 Jon Cross became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
2019 MVP became the WCR Imperial Champion
2020 Pastor Brent became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
2021 Maui Mike def. Thrash for the ASP Mid-American Title
2021 Brixton Barricade def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
2021 Malik Mayfield def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP Livestream Title
2021 Double D def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP 5-Star Title

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