7 Times WWE Blew It With Jack Swagger

2. We The People

Jack Swagger
WWE.com

What started as the company's best handling of the Swagger character quickly became the worst, as he'd find out that the worst place to fall from in WWE was the very top.

Returning to television in February 2013 after a hiatus, a more intense Swagger ripped through the midcard, demanding placement in the upcoming Elimination Chamber pay-per-view main event, which would determine who would go to WrestleMania to face defending babyface champion Alberto Del Rio.

Swagger was accompanied by Zeb Colter, in a shocking on-screen return for Dutch Mantell. The two parroted the views of the hard-right Tea Party Movement, with the pair portraying ultra-conservative worrywarts particularly zoning in on immigration as a reason for their discontent.

This played in neatly with Del Rio as champion, and when Swagger surprisingly won the Elimination Chamber, the match was set for the 'Show of Shows'.

WWE aren't all to blame for Jack's eventual defeat in the half-hearted encounter at WrestleMania 29, but their follow-up booking didn't help. Swagger was arrested for driving under the influence and drug possession just weeks before his title shot, which soured management on his likely victory, and undoubtedly skewed their thinking as he lost countless rematches in the aftermath.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett