Jake Hager wanted to use his success in MMA to kickstart a WWE return, leading to a WrestleMania match with Roman Reigns!
The AEW star recently announced his retirement from MMA after last competing at Bellator 250 back in October 2020. He leaves the sport with an undefeated professional record of 3 wins, alongside a no-contest due to his accidental groin strikes to Anthony Garrett at Bellator 231.
Now, the former Jack Swagger has revealed the purpose behind his short-lived time in the world of mixed martial arts: Hager wanted to become undefeated in MMA in order to return as a bigger star in WWE following his release in March 2017.
Hager detailed that plan during a signing for K&S WrestleFest and hoped to become a big enough star that he could challenge Roman Reigns to a match at WrestleMania!
Despite that plan not coming to fruition, the 41-year-old believes he’d still beat Reigns if they clashed today and told fans to pass the message on to The Tribal Chief!
“When I left WWE, my plan was to go to MMA, get really good, be undefeated and then go back to WWE and wrestle Roman Reigns at WrestleMania.
A little slight turn. A lot of that happened. We were close. I’d kick Roman’s butt. He knows it, I know it. If you want to tell him that, tell him that.”
Chris Jericho Claims Jake Hager Once Saved His Life
During a Talk Is Jericho episode in June 2022, Chris Jericho revealed how then-Jericho Appreciation Society member Jake Hager saved his life whilst the two were both still in WWE.
During a tour in Abu Dhabi, Jericho got into an altercation with an unruly man who threatened to put a bounty on the former AEW World Champion’s head. Hager ultimately convinced Jericho not to brawl with the man, likely saving Jericho’s life.
h/t to Fightful