10 Ups & 7 Downs For AEW In 2020 (So Far)

4. The Wrong Guy

Jake Hager
AEW

Call AEW's Jake Hager experiment a noble failure.

It was noble in that the promotion genuinely tried to do something with a real-life badass who may have had more to offer than his WWE run suggested, capitalising on his MMA credibility to present the former Jake Swager as the Inner Circle's big, dangerous bruiser. Hager's debut was electric and he played his role as Chris Jericho's heavy well. His offense had pop, snap, and stiffness to it and he excelled in squash matches, his overmatched opponents flying into him like bugs on a windshield.

It's a shame, then that Hager has been found wanting when moved into bigger spotlights. Revolution's well-built battle with Dustin Rhodes was slow and ponderous, suggesting that Jack Swagger still lived within Jake Hager. This was confirmed when he met Jon Moxley for the AEW World Title weeks later, their No Holds Barred clash going down as a plodding, tedious teeth-puller, though Fyter Fest offers a shot at redemption against Cody.

For now, big Jake is lacking. Turns out you can take the man out of WWE, but not the Swagger out of Hager.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.