10 Post-WWE Runs That Were Nothing Like We Expected
8. Jack Swagger
'The Savage' Jake Strong was a sadistic force to be reckoned with on the final season of Lucha Underground. His ankle lock was presented as a career ender, kayfabe snapping the bones of Famous B, Big Bad Steve and Sammy Guevara on the way to being the show's final world champion.
Seeing Jake Hager play such a beast on LU was a shocker given his years as a jobber to the stars in WWE. Mr We The People was a perpetual victim of WWE's start-stop habit, occasionally being built up only to be knocked right back down the card. With zero credibility by the end of his run (and a career worst promo to start a doomed feud with Baron Corbin), Jack Swagger was granted his release in 2017.
His presentation as a monster everywhere since is no doubt a head turner for those who've only seen him in WWE. Thanks to his impressive work in Bellator though, Hager has legit fighter credibility and is easy to present as a deadly hard man everywhere he goes. He fits the role of Chris Jericho's dangerous bodyguard nicely in AEW and continues to be a respectable tough guy act for the company today.