Jack Swagger is a former world heavyweight champion. Let that sink in for a moment. Commentators like Michael Cole and Byron Saxton will remind fans of such an accomplishment but for whatever reason, it never really garners the respect it deserves, at least in the Real American's case. In fact, a lot of what Swagger does and is capable of goes unrecognized and underappreciated by management and fans alike, leading to his spot on this countdown. Despite repeatedly proving himself as an in-ring performer, most notably in recent matches with Rusev and his 2013 rivalry with Alberto Del Rio, Swagger remains firmly entrenched in WWE's midcard, lost in the shuffle and stuck competing in meaningless matches on WWE Superstars. When he does finally make it onto Monday or Thursday night programming, he does so as the punching bag for the Bulgarian Brute, who apparently never gets tired of beating on the former amateur wrestling star. It may be too little, too late for Swagger to ever be a sustainable main event star. His 2013 run-in with the law suggests he is not the most trustworthy of stars, given the fact that he was en route to a huge world title match when he was arrested for driving under the influence and possession of marijuana, but that does not mean he cannot be used in a much more meaningful manner than he currently is. A run at the intercontinental or United States titles, perhaps even starring as backup for a main event star like Roman Reigns or Randy Orton, would be solid use of a guy who still has a great deal left in the tank. A performer still in his athletic prime, wasting Swagger on the lower midcard is a tremendous misuse of his talents.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
