10 WWE Stars Who Weren't Allowed To Use Their Own Ideas

5. Chris Jericho: New Bodyguard

Jake Hager Chris Jericho
Scott Lesh

Jake Hager is Chris Jericho's new muscle in the Inner Circle, and it's great.

It's something Jericho would do, and something he has done, when he selected the Big Show as his tag team partner, and it incorporates Hager's best qualities in a role that does not expose him. He looks great kicking the ever-loving sh*t out of the babyfaces, and he need only stand there and look brick (and slightly nervous, let's be honest) as Jericho puts over his legit hard-man credentials.

Per Wade Keller of PWInsider, several key figures lobbied to hire Hager behind the scenes. One of them was obviously fellow Oklahoman Jim Ross, who is as enthused by Hager's very presence as he is by a Kaitlyn bikini shot.

The other, presumably, was Jericho himself: according to Bryan Alvarez, about a decade ago, Jericho pitched Jack Swagger as his bodyguard in WWE. Vince rejected it because he had other plans - those plans being chased around the ring by an eagle mascot like a giant a**hole.

That Jericho sees something in Hager is itself cause for optimism: he's a very smart man with a keen grasp on what - and hopefully, who - gets over.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!