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Why Jack Swagger's World Heavyweight Title Reign Is One Of The Worst In WWE History

Posted: May 29th 2022 By: Ibrahim Awadalla - TheSportster.com

Jack Swagger's forgotten World Heavyweight Championship reign was one of the worst due to poor booking.

Jack Swagger, also known by his real name Jake Hager in AEW, spent nearly a decade with WWE before departing in 2017. Despite never reaching his fullest potential in WWE, Jack Swagger won numerous championships, including the World Heavyweight Championship in 2010 when he cashed in his Money in the Bank suitcase on Chris Jericho. However, Jack Swagger's World Heavyweight Championship reign was not only considered a flop, but it also did nothing to elevate his career as a singles star. Though some could argue that Jack Swagger was too green to be put in a position as world champion, his World Heavyweight Championship reign falls on WWE's poor creative booking from the start.

No Build-Up Before Championship Win

Jack Swagger arrived at the ECW brand in 2008 and received a push to win the ECW Championship not too long after his debut. Considering Jack Swagger's legitimate athletic background and the size he possesses, one would believe that at least WWE would protect Jack Swagger regarding his credibility throughout being featured on WWE television.

It wasn't the case, as his ECW Championship was forgettable and, at best, mediocre. Once moving up to the Raw brand in 2009, Jack Swagger became just another superstar on the roster with no proper build-up. Even with Jack Swagger winning the world championship within a year after that, WWE made no effort to build him up for fans to take seriously before his big championship win.

Difficult Beginnings As World Heavyweight Champion

Jack Swagger won the Money in the Bank ladder match at Wrestlemania 26 in a shocking victory, considering that upcoming superstars like Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler were also in the ladder match. Just two days later, at a taping of Friday Night Smackdown, Jack Swagger successfully cashed in his Money in the Bank suitcase on World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho to win his first world title in WWE. While his sudden rise to the top was unexpected, Jack Swagger had the opportunity to establish himself as a main-event level superstar now that he's obtained the World Heavyweight Champion.

The first match Jack Swagger had as World Heavyweight Champion was a losing effort to Randy Orton on an episode of Monday Night Raw, as this was his last match before moving to the Smackdown. That should've been an indicator that Jack Swagger's world title reign wasn't going to work. Even if the justification for losing to Randy Orton was he's leaving the Raw brand, why use it to risk Jack Swagger's potential to become an established star?

Within one month after winning the World Heavyweight Championship, Jack Swagger cleanly lost many free TV matches. Jack Swagger didn't just get defeated by Randy Orton on free TV but took losses to The Undertaker and even a mid-card talent like John Morrison.

It's worth noting that Jack Swagger did have some success as a world champion. Jack Swagger eventually got a clean victory in his first World Heavyweight Championship defense against Edge and Chris Jericho on Smackdown and a clean victory over Randy Orton at the Extreme Rules 2010 PPV. However, Jack Swagger becoming an established main event was arguably ruined at that point anyway.

Too Late To Save Jack Swagger's Title Reign

One must not forget that one of the reasons why Jack Swagger's title reign was horrible was that WWE made him out to appear like a joke. Whether it'd be wrestlers cutting jokes about the way he talks or anything else about his personality, it was clear that WWE did not take him seriously, even when putting him in a position of holding a world title.

It isn't to say that wrestlers can't crack jokes on each other, but Jack Swagger's title reign was already not working from the start. Jack Swagger getting ridiculed constantly and repeatedly losing is doing nothing but increase the damage to his credibility.

As Jack Swagger continued his World Heavyweight Championship reign, WWE didn't do much to improve his credibility as a world champion. After only two months of holding the belt, Jack Swagger lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Rey Mysterio at the Fatal 4-Way PPV event. Any chance that there was hope for Jack Swagger's horrible title reign, the fact that he dropped the belt so soon after two months was the nail in the coffin. And because his title reign was disappointing, Jack Swagger was removed from the main-event scene not too long after.

WWE Should Learn Their Lesson

Jack Swagger is a talented individual, but WWE did him no favors by booking a ridiculous World Heavyweight Championship reign. Along with former World Heavyweight Champions like The Great Khali and Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger's title reign was awful to where it took him out of the main-event scene for a long time.

Unfortunately, Jack Swagger had one of the worst world title reigns in WWE history for no fault of his own. And although WWE can't change history regarding bad world champions, they can learn from it for future booking preferences. A lesson like this is crucial for WWE to understand that booking must be up to par on their behalf if wanting to create potential stars.

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1969 The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
1980 Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
1986 Black Bart def. Chris Adams for the WCCW World Title
2007 Sudden Impact (Sudden Impact 1 & Sudden Impact 2) def. Texas, Inc. (Bernard Funk & Tim Rockwell) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
2007 Anthony Jackson def. AWOL for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
2007 Shane Morbid def. Justin Lee for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
2012 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
2018 Chavo Guerrero, Jr. def. MVP for the WCR Heavyweight Title
2019 Chaz Sharpe def. James Southard for the ASP Inter-County Title
2023 Jastin Taylor def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Heavyweight 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
09-18 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

09-15

L. C. Green Sep 15th Today!
Spoiler 2000 Sep 15th Today!
Korvin Sage Sep 15th Today!
Daniel King Sep 15th Today!
Haru Sonada Sep 16th
Colton Kinnamon Sep 17th
Bill Irwin Sep 17th
Dick Brower Sep 17th
Jake Swayze Sep 17th
Jim Cornette Sep 17th
Rex Mori Sep 17th
Titan Yin Sep 18th
Angel Reed Sep 18th
Billy Robinson Sep 18th
Mr. Nabors Sep 18th
Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th
Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
Adam Asher Sep 19th
Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
Pepper Martin Sep 20th
Joey Stixx Sep 20th
Boz Sep 20th
Ethan Page Sep 20th
Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
Bishop Simon Sep 20th
Justin Lee Sep 20th
Chuck Singer Sep 20th
Greg Valentine Sep 20th
Jack Brisco Sep 21st
Connor Jones Sep 21st
Ricky Morton Sep 21st
Satine Sep 22nd
Doug Somers Sep 22nd
Harley D Sep 22nd
Red River Brawler Sep 22nd
Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
O'Malley Sep 23rd
Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd
Kai Fayden Sep 24th
Jason Bruce Sep 24th
Joe Jones Sep 24th
Clayton Bloodstone Sep 24th
Connor Crunk Sep 24th
John J. Bishop Sep 24th
Len Rossi Sep 24th
Chief Mike Sep 25th
Jimmy Garvin Sep 25th
Toots Estes Sep 25th
Angel [2nd] Sep 25th
Lone Eagle Sep 26th
Clifton Clinstock Sep 26th
Jhamil O$Neal Sep 26th
Ka$haNova Sep 26th
Chris Matthews Sep 26th
Kendo Nagasaki Sep 26th
BB Sep 26th
Tyler Cordingley Sep 27th
Ben Miller Sep 27th
Alec Bisogno Sep 27th
Angel Camacho Sep 27th
Kamille Sep 28th
Rip Tyler Sep 28th
Scott Lee Sep 28th
Tommy Prince Sep 28th
Trey Count Sep 28th
Billy Ray [2nd] Sep 28th

1969 The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
1980 Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
1986 Black Bart def. Chris Adams for the WCCW World Title
2007 Sudden Impact (Sudden Impact 1 & Sudden Impact 2) def. Texas, Inc. (Bernard Funk & Tim Rockwell) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
2007 Anthony Jackson def. AWOL for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
2007 Shane Morbid def. Justin Lee for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
2012 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
2018 Chavo Guerrero, Jr. def. MVP for the WCR Heavyweight Title
2019 Chaz Sharpe def. James Southard for the ASP Inter-County Title
2023 Jastin Taylor def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Heavyweight Title

More Look Back In History

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United Wrestling Entertainment

Heavyweight Champion
Brandon Warhawk

Tag Team Champions: Black Flag Rising
Apex Champion: R: I: O