Or should I say Jake Hager...
Just announced in studio on #TheMMAHour with @arielhelwani, @RealJackSwagger is now a part of the heavyweight division! #BellatorNation pic.twitter.com/6VXMACJQkX
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) November 13, 2017
Hager was released from WWE back in March of this year, ending over a decade with the company. During that time, the former collegiate All-American wrestler from the University of Oklahoma was a WWE World Heavyweight and United States champion before he eventually drifted down the card and requested his release before what sounded like a mutually agreed upon split was negotiated.
Since leaving, he’s worked for several different independent pro wrestling promotions and talked about trying mixed martial arts, but has yet to make his MMA debut. He told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour that he’s been training for that debut in his current home state of Florida.
His Bellator debut is targeted for 2018, where he’ll compete at heavyweight.
Will Jake be more Brock Lesnar or CM Punk? We’ll find out next year.