Jack Swagger: ‘I Asked for My Release from WWE’

Jack Swagger announced on Chael Sonnen’s podcast that he requested his release from the WWE.

Jack Swagger has struggled to make his way onto WWE TV in recent months, having started on Raw during the brand split. He moved to SmackDown Live, had a feud with Baron Corbin, and rarely made his way back on to programming.

Well, the current situation is apparently one that Swagger hasn’t liked, so much that he decided to request his release from the WWE. He announced this on Chael Sonnen’s podcast on Wednesday (h/t Cageside Seats for the transcription):

"As of yesterday, Chael, I asked for my release from WWE. It’s still kind of an ongoing process right now. Basically it came down to contract negotiations and we were way off. They didn’t value me at what I thought I was valued at so… this was a business decision. They weren’t giving me the opportunity to make the full amount of income I could for my family so, when you put it like that, it’s time to go."

WWE has not acknowledged this on their website, so it’s unlikely that the process of releasing Swagger has been completed.

The potential departure of Swagger, whose real name is Jake Hager, would end his 10-plus year career in the WWE. This notably saw him have a World Heavyweight Championship reign in 2010, cashing in Money in the Bank to accomplish this. He also had a World title opportunity at WrestleMania 29, but lost to Alberto Del Rio.

The All-American American then took part in a stable with Cesaro in 2013, known as the Real Americans. Zeb Colter, who recently joined TNA in a backstage role, led the tag team. He had Tag Team and United States Championship opportunities that followed, but never walked out successfully.

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Now we’ll see if Jack Swagger hits the free agent market and where he may go. With TNA letting go of a handful of their big names, could he end up there?