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Talking "Smack" with WWE's Swagger

Talking "Smack" with WWE's Swagger

Posted: Jun 23rd 2010 By: CMBurnham

Jack Swagger, the WWE?s World Heavyweight Champion, will be at the top of the ?SmackDown Live? card at Mohegan Sun Arena next Tuesday when he teams with CM Punk for a steel cage match against The Big Show and Rey Mysterio.

Swagger, who defeated Chris Jericho for the heavyweight belt in a match televised on ?SmackDown,? was a defensive tackle and wrestler at Oklahoma University, having planned to enter the financial sector until the WWE made him an offer he couldn?t refuse.

WEEKENDER: What?s more demanding, Division I football or professional wrestling?

SWAGGER: I?d say professional wrestling, because you don?t get pampered like you do in Division I football. ? College football is kind of spoiled; it?s one of the top sports in the country, so after games or whatnot you?ve got the planes going back home, the big buses, which is not to take away from the training ? it?s a lot to prepare yourself to compete at that level, but I?d say the training is almost fairly similar to what I do now as far as lifting and cardio-wise, except we have the four- and five-hour car rides after we get done with the show.

WEEKENDER: Where is the pay better?

SWAGGER: It depends if you?re friends with Reggie Bush or not.

WEEKENDER: Do you approach steel cage matches differently?

SWAGGER: Yeah, of course you do, because it?s its own separate animal, so you have to have your own unique strategy going into ?em. Ya know, you try to use it the best you can as a weapon for you, and I try to avoid the disasters that they could be.

WEEKENDER: What adjustments did you have to make going from high school and college wrestling to the pros?

SWAGGER: The biggest thing is that you need to learn how to be in front of a crowd. Amateur wrestling is not that big of a spectator sport, so the biggest thing (in the pros) is to get that showmanship, the charisma, the confidence, and look like a champion. If you do that, a lot of it will take care of itself if you already have the wrestling technique.

WEEKENDER: What?s more fun, being the good guy or the heel?

SWAGGER: (Laughs) Oh man, there something to be said about being able to get a whole crowd cheering for you and fighting with you. But there?s also something to be said (for when) the same crowd is fighting against you, and (having) all of them really hate you ? that?s what I enjoy. It reminds me of high school. My high school wrestling team was pretty dominant, and we would go to state tournaments, and in 14 weights we?d have 13 in the finals, and we?d walk out on the mat before the finals would start, and everybody would just boo us because we were that good. And I kind of like to apply that to now. It?s a lot of fun, I can tell you that.

WEEKENDER: Is it true you were offered your WWE contract the day you were supposed to start a job in the business world in Dallas, Texas?

SWAGGER: I actually have a bachelors in finance from the University of Oklahoma. I was going through the whole job-searching process my last semester of college. I went on a trip to check out this place in Dallas, this firm, and the following week I went to Atlanta to go try out for (WWE affiliate) Deep South (Wrestling). When I got back, I was supposed to go back down to Dallas to start, but that day I got a call from (then-WWE agent) Jerry Brisco saying I got the contract if I wanted it, which I did, and I jumped all over it. I kind of burned a bridge with that firm.

WEEKENDER: How would you describe the current state of pro wrestling?

SWAGGER: You know, what I love about pro wrestling is its an ever-evolving industry. What was transcended a decade ago with the Monday Night Wars and what the big guys were doing, Stone Cold (Steve Austin) and The Rock, necessarily doesn?t fit for what we?re doing right now.
It?s a little difficult to gauge with the last few years with the economy being down and all the natural disasters, like the oil disaster in the Gulf; it all plays an effect on it, but overall, we really have not seen a decline in our live events, which is great. Our tickets are cheap, which helps out, and (it?s) more of a kid-friendly show, which definitely drives up our attendance. So with all those factors weighing in, it?s cool to see how it?s evolving and surviving.

 

Tags: Jack Swagger, WWE, Jerry Brisco

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Spotlight in History

  • 1960 Tony Borne def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 1969 Chuck Karbo became the TSW North American Champion
  • 1978 Karl Krupp became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 1998 The Bad Boys (Splash Jackson & Bull Schmitt) def. The Texas Outlaws (Dan Wilder & Bernard Funk) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 2008 Brent Albright def. Slam Shady for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 2008 Josh Michaels became the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2009 The Canadian Red Devil became the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 2015 Seth Angel & Adrian Dell def. Nemesis (Bobby Starr & Damien Morte) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 2015 Killista def. Paul Puertorico for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 2015 Rolling Thunder def. Michael Duplanti for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 2015 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
  • 2015 Michael Wolf def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 2015 Jake O'Brien def. Michael Wolf for the ComPro Heavyweight Title

Week of Sun 06-07 to Sat: 06-13

  • 06-07 1969 Jose Lothario def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 06-07 2008 Ky-ote Johammed def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 06-07 2008 Mo'Body Gillespie def. Ky-ote Johammed for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 06-07 2013 Bobby Starr def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 06-07 2013 Ignition def. Super Skunk Ape, Jr. for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-07 2013 The Canadian Red Devil def. Michael York for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 06-07 2014 Steven Sterling def. Sam Stackhouse for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 06-07 2014 Jake O'Brien def. The Canadian Red Devil for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 06-07 2014 Terry Montana def. Ignition for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-07 2014 Havoc def. Buster Cherry for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 06-07 2014 Rick Russo def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 06-07 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 06-07 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 06-07 2014 Terry Pantera became the BPPW Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-07 2025 Frankie Lee def. K. J. Gold for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 06-08 1959 Frankie Kovacs & Jerry Miller def. Pretty Boy Collins & Duke Scarbo for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
  • 06-08 2013 L. J. McDaniels became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-08 2013 Hurricane Ross def. Billy Ray for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-08 2019 Michael Duplanti def. Anarchy [2nd] for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 06-08 2019 Big Smooth def. Hurricane Ross for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-08 2024 Billie the Kiid became the NAW Indigenous Land Champion
  • 06-08 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-08 2024 Eddie LeVaughn def. Romeo Reese for the WAH Heavyweight Title
  • 06-08 2024 Michael Duplanti became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 06-08 2024 Speeding Bullet (Mike Gunnz & Stephen Nitro) def. The Texas Outlaws (Bobby Burns & Manico) for the NAW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-09 1959 The Golden Giant became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-09 1966 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-09 1980 The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) def. Junkyard Dog & Buck Robley for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 06-09 1989 Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras def. Super Zodiac & Cactus Jack for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 06-09 2017 The Rising (Matt Durden & Riker) def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 06-09 2023 Koko became the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-09 2023 The Regime (Derek James & Logan Knight & Merc & Skylar Slice/Sgt. Slice) def. The Roll Modelz (Malik Mayfield & Olivier Vegos) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-09 2023 Mr. Nasty def. Mascara Purpura for the CPW 918 Title
  • 06-09 2023 Red James def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW 918 Title
  • 06-10 1979 Bruiser Brody def. Mark Lewin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-10 1985 Tim Brooks def. Scott Casey for the WCCW Television Title
  • 06-10 2006 Dexter Hardaway became the AACW Mid-American Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-10 2023 MLP became the XDWF New GenX Champion
  • 06-11 1984 Chris Adams became the WCCW Television Champion
  • 06-11 2009 Sage became the SWCW Art of War Champion
  • 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien def. Robbie Awesome for the MERC Patriot Title
  • 06-11 2011 The Ring Intruders (Jon Cross & Fuel) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien became the SRPW Patriot Champion
  • 06-11 2011 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 06-11 2011 Tim Storm def. Michael Faith for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 06-11 2022 Pastor Brent & Andrew Fenix def. The Rejecs LM (Elijah Sparks & Dr. Corvus) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 06-11 2022 Connor Smith def. Romeo Reese for the WAH Spotlight Title
  • 06-11 2022 Umbra def. Koko for the WAH Living Hope Title
  • 06-11 2022 Dan Webber def. Paul Puertorico for the WAH Heavyweight Title
  • 06-12 1982 The Spoiler def. Frank Dusek for the WCCW Television Title
  • 06-12 2009 El Latino became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-12 2021 Brawler Morrison def. Blade [2nd] for the UWO Heavyweight Title
  • 06-12 2026 Mr. Nasty became the BUW 918 Champion
  • 06-13 1960 Tony Borne def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-13 1969 Chuck Karbo became the TSW North American Champion
  • 06-13 1978 Karl Krupp became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-13 1998 The Bad Boys (Splash Jackson & Bull Schmitt) def. The Texas Outlaws (Dan Wilder & Bernard Funk) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 06-13 2008 Brent Albright def. Slam Shady for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 06-13 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 06-13 2008 Josh Michaels became the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 2009 The Canadian Red Devil became the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Seth Angel & Adrian Dell def. Nemesis (Bobby Starr & Damien Morte) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 06-13 2015 Killista def. Paul Puertorico for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-13 2015 Rolling Thunder def. Michael Duplanti for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-13 2015 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
  • 06-13 2015 Michael Wolf def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 06-13 2015 Jake O'Brien def. Michael Wolf for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
06-13
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