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WWE Superstar Jack Swagger Talks Money In The Bank

Posted: Jul 20th 2011 By: CMBurnham

Just a few days before WWE's Money in the Bank pay-per-view, I talked to a former Mr. Money in the Bank Jack Swagger about his thoughts on, the dangers of a ladder match, the CM Punk-John Cena angle and his time as World Champion. Here are some highlights. Check back for the rest of the interview next week before the WWE returns to Maryland, this time for a Raw live event at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro on Sunday, July 24.

Q: Money in the Bank is Sunday, and you're a former Mr. Money in the Bank. Talk about the match itself - how different is the environment of a multi-man ladder match than just a one-on-one match?

A: Every match is different, even every singles match. A lot of that's based on the crowd; the crowd will dictate how the match will go. And that's the great thing about the WWE is we really center all our shows around our universe, around our live crowd. Every match is different, especially and eight-man ladder match. I flash back to my first one at WrestleMania [26] and all the people around. It was just something else. You know, we had 10 people in that match, and it was nonstop for 20 minutes, keep your head on a swivel, try to recover, try to get back on your feet because something big is coming your way and if you're not looking, (laughs) you're gonna get caught right in the face with it. Man, it's a lot of fun but very dangerous, but with high risk comes high reward. And it really is true what they say about this match, it's an opportunity of a lifetime if you win it. And in the back of all our heads, that's what's going through it and I think that's what elevates the match even more than the eight men involved, more than the ladder match, is what's at the end of the rainbow, the gold in the pot, is the opportunity of a lifetime. And man, it's gonna make everyone push that much harder for it.

Q: How did things change for you after you won Money in the Bank and then the World Championship last year?

A: It was awesome. It was a monumental feat. Once you're a world champion, you're always a world champion and to put those two words besides your name, it really is humbling to say it out loud. It changed a lot of things in my life; it changed my perspective toward things and how I handled myself. You really can't put it into words what it means; it's different for every person. But, it was a lifelong dream, and at the same time, it's just the tip of the iceberg because it makes me want more. I want more world championships. Once you have a taste for it, it?s like a shark in the water smelling blood. You gotta go for it and you gotta give it everything or you?re going to come short.

Q: What did you learn from being the champion and being the top guy on the show?

A: Man, there's so much [I learned] not only being the top guy, but working with the other top guys and getting their mindsets and perspectives. That really is the goal right there. What I learned in those 78 days as World Champion was truly was phenomenal. It felt like 10 years of experience I digested and took from these people. It was truly an honor to work with those top guys and to take any lesson they could teach me.

Q: Speaking of Money in the Bank, as a fan, what do you think of what's happening with CM Punk right now?

A: I think it's very interesting what's going on, even as a Superstar, I'm not entirely, you know, I'm watching as a fan, trying to figure out what's going on and what's happening. I think it's got us all on the edge of our seats and it should make for a very interesting pay-per-view.