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Jack Swagger: Why He Should Turn Babyface on Dolph Ziggler

Jack Swagger: Why He Should Turn Babyface on Dolph Ziggler

Posted: Nov 22nd 2012 By: mikeiles

A year ago, Jack Swagger was getting a decent push as Vickie Guerrero?s client and wasn?t far away from winning the United States Championship.

But today? He?s nowhere to be found.

Swagger ?quit? the WWE after a long string of losses back in early September and has been off TV for more than two months now, seemingly to be brought back under a different character or gimmick down the road. There have been all sorts of scenarios thrown around about Swagger?s potential return, suggesting everything from a renewed push as a heel to a complete gimmick overhaul.

One idea that I really like was written by fellow B/R writer John Canton, who thinks that Swagger could return as a babyface and go after Antonio Cesaro and the US Championship. This, of course, would play into Cesaro criticizing the US every week as well as Swagger?s ?All-American American? shtick.

I think that?s a great way to bring Swagger back and instantly make him relevant again, but here?s another suggestion: Have him turn face on Dolph Ziggler.

For a big chunk of both 2011 and 2012, Swagger and Ziggler served as Vickie Guerrero?s two clients, often working together as a tag team but also developing a rivalry of sorts as they competed for her services. As we all know now, it wound up being Ziggler who won a match to retain Vickie?s services, which meant Swagger was left to venture off on his own.

Of course, it didn?t take long for Swagger to quickly plummet down the card once he and Vickie parted ways. He quickly turned into a jobber (losing to guys like Ryback and Sheamus), and not even three months later, he found himself off TV altogether.

I?ve read rumors about Swagger being buried because he has backstage heat, but since none of those rumors seemed to come from reliable sources, I really can?t accurately comment on them. Either way, though, Swagger is just too damn talented not to be used at all on either Raw or SmackDown.

He?s a great in-ring talent, who?although not great on the stick?is one of the best big men around and, at 30 years old, is in the prime of his career. He?s still got a lot of value. He just needs a way to make it back on TV.

That?s why I suggest the aforementioned face turn on Ziggler.

It?s no secret that Swagger needs to change his character in order to have any measure of success upon his return, and since he?s spent his entire WWE career as a heel, it?s worth taking a risk to see how he can perform as a babyface. We?re currently seeing The Miz turn face, and it seems to be working out pretty well so far.

The same could happen with Swagger, especially when you consider that his nickname and gimmick is ?The All-American American.? With a name like that, he could undoubtedly perform as a babyface who is the ?ideal American,? is incredibly patriotic and does everything for the good of his country.

Though cheesy, a gimmick like that could work with a guy like Swagger because he?s good enough in the ring to get the fans behind him. He just needs a quality storyline to make it work.

Why not one with Ziggler?

While I know many will say that ?Ziggler is above Swagger?s level,? I?m not saying that Swagger has to come in and instantly be a main-event-caliber guy like Ziggler is. Swagger just needs to return and target the guy who stole his manager and essentially ruined his WWE career.

It?s an easy story that works, and it could be ignited with something as simple as Ziggler boasting about how great he is and challenging anyone in the back to try to beat him. Out comes Swagger, who attacks Ziggler and beats the living crap out of him, with the match never taking place.

Ziggler?s getting over big-time as a heel right now, so if Swagger is going to return as a babyface, it?s logical for the WWE to want him to do it against a top heel in a storyline that isn?t just randomly thrown together.

As we all know, Ziggler and Swagger have a ton of history together. Yet, the WWE rushed their breakup angle without any real payoff.

It?s time for a re-do, and that re-do should come with Swagger going after the guy who nearly cost him his career and turning babyface in the process.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 2025 Billie the Kiid def. Dan Webber for the ASP Heavyweight Title

Week of Sun 06-21 to Sat: 06-27

  • 06-21 1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-21 1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 06-21 2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Title
  • 06-21 2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-21 2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Title
  • 06-21 2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 06-21 2024 Big Sed def. Sam Adonis for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
  • 06-21 2025 Dan Webber became the LCW Lionheart Champion
  • 06-22 2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-22 2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-22 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-22 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-22 2025 Billie the Kiid def. Dan Webber for the ASP Heavyweight Title
  • 06-23 1972 Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-23 1980 Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada def. Jose Lothario & Tiger Conway Jr. for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 06-23 1982 Ted DiBiase def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-23 1984 Gino Hernandez became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-23 1989 The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) def. Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 06-23 2001 Big Daddy Moore def. Adam Lacroix for the OPW Oklahoma Television Title
  • 06-23 2001 Grenade became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-23 2009 Joshua Michael & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-23 2023 Dustin Tibbs def. Thrash for the WFC Prime Title
  • 06-24 1972 Stan Stasiak def. Red Bastien for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 06-24 1974 Bull Ramos def. Rip Tyler for the TSW North American Title
  • 06-24 1977 John Studd became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-24 1985 The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2000 Great Bolo [2nd] def. Ichiban [2nd] for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 06-24 2000 Ichiban [2nd] became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-24 2005 Spoiler 2000 became the NWA-U Television Champion
  • 06-24 2006 Prophet SteVens became the AACW Television Champion
  • 06-24 2007 Matt Garza became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 06-24 2016 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Terry Montana & Mighty Mouse for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2016 Seth Angel def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 06-24 2016 Adrian Dell def. Nathan Estrada for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-24 2017 Drake Gallows became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-24 2017 Excellence Personified (Duke Swellington & Dustin Heritage) def. Shawn Hendrix & Aaron Anders (substituting for Anthony Andrews) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2017 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2018 Shawn Sanders def. Chaz Sharpe for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 06-24 2018 Canadian Red Devil def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Mid-American Title
  • 06-24 2020 Warren Powers def. Giganto for the BPW 365 Title
  • 06-24 2023 Stage Dive Mafia (Rook Tyler & Axel Savage) became the BCW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-24 2023 C. M. Burnham def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-24 2023 Lunchador def. C. M. Burnham for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-25 2011 Sam Stackhouse def. Shane Morbid for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-25 2011 The Sons of Ireland (Devan Scott & Shane Scott) def. The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the BYEW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-25 2011 Chris Chaos became the BYEW Caution Champion
  • 06-25 2011 The Future Hall of Famers (John O'Malley & Brad Michaels) def. Bernie D & Aaron Neil (subbing for Max McGuirk) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-25 2016 Brian Breaker def. Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 06-25 2017 The Cub Scouts (Grizzly Gates & Brock Landers) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 06-26 1961 The Bolos (Great Bolo 1st & Mighty Bolo) became the TSW Southwestern Tag Team Champions
  • 06-26 1987 Frankie Lancaster & Eric Embry def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 06-26 1999 Tarantula def. Original Renegade for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 06-26 2005 Li'l Joe def. Phillip for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-26 2009 Brandon Groom def. The Handsome Spoiler for the TOPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 06-26 2009 Kevin James Sanchez def. Bobby Starr for the BYEW Entertainment Title
  • 06-26 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese) def. Los Loco Moscas (Elijah Sparks & El Greengo Loco) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 06-26 2025 Microman def. Mini Abismo Negro for the EDW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-27 1969 Wahoo McDaniel & Thunderbolt Patterson became the WCCW American Tag Team Champions
  • 06-27 1971 Johnny Valentine def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-27 1976 Jose Lothario def. The Mongolian Stomper for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-27 2009 Randy Price def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 06-27 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
06-22
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  • Claire Jun 28th
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  • Ed Lewis Jun 30th
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