When you think of someone who is a main event level worker you think of someone that, no matter where they are on the card, they elevate everyone that they work with. Only a main eventer can give a proper rub to a midcard wrestler to get them into the main event scene. There are a wide variety of wrestlers who have earned the distinction of being "main eventers" and in some ways Jack Swagger has filled that role. He doesn't push merchandise, he doesn't play to the fans, but he is a straight up heel and has been for nearly his entire career. A heel is meant to get over a face, the better the heel, the better the face appears, and the more money the face can draw.
So now to the question..."is Jack Swagger a legit main eventer?"
When Swagger debuted in ECW he went on an undefeated streak until he won the ECW Championship. When Christian returned to the WWE, it was his matches with Swagger that helped people realize that Christian was a bigger deal than when he left. Christian showed his main event chops, Swagger looked like a million bucks, it seemed unquestionable that Swagger would be a top guy.
When Swagger came to Raw, he instantly became a midcard force, working with the likes of MVP, Kofi Kingston, and The Miz. Not long after, Swagger won the Money in the Bank and defeated Chris Jericho at an opportune moment to become World Heavyweight Champion. After a short run and a slight character change, Swagger would lose the title to Rey Mysterio and return to being a force in the midcard.
Swagger then became the trainer for Michael Cole, who had nuclear heat, in his feud with Jerry Lawler and added an interesting dynamic to the build. Swagger then fell by the wayside, working with Vickie Guerrero as his manager and teaming with Dolph Ziggler. Though they were an often overlooked team, Swagger did defeat Zack Ryder for the U.S. Title when Ryder was still super over. Swagger then fell into a three month losing streak and a lot of people guessed he was soon to be released. Unfortunately, this is the time period that Swagger seems to be most remembered for.
After taking time off, Swagger returned with Zeb Coulter and returned to the main event scene, feuding for the World Heavyweight title for months. He would then take some time off for an injury and return to team with Cesaro; who had been taken under the wing of Coulter during his absence. Swagger and Cesaro both benefited from this pairing as Cesaro's run up the card started with the Real Americans. When Cesaro put on a classic with Sami Zayn on NXT, Swagger followed up the next week with another classic match.
Did working with Swagger, and looking like a star next to Swagger, give Cesaro the rub that allowed him to jump up the card? And, if so, does Swagger have a lot more legitimacy than most people are willing to acknowledge? He is the forgotten star, the consummate heel, the guy who is turning into a grizzled veteran and serving as a gate keeper for up-and-coming stars. Swagger has been placed in the role of a main eventer a lot throughout his career, but has it been enough to give him that career making credibility?
So now to the question..."is Jack Swagger a legit main eventer?"
When Swagger debuted in ECW he went on an undefeated streak until he won the ECW Championship. When Christian returned to the WWE, it was his matches with Swagger that helped people realize that Christian was a bigger deal than when he left. Christian showed his main event chops, Swagger looked like a million bucks, it seemed unquestionable that Swagger would be a top guy.
When Swagger came to Raw, he instantly became a midcard force, working with the likes of MVP, Kofi Kingston, and The Miz. Not long after, Swagger won the Money in the Bank and defeated Chris Jericho at an opportune moment to become World Heavyweight Champion. After a short run and a slight character change, Swagger would lose the title to Rey Mysterio and return to being a force in the midcard.
Swagger then became the trainer for Michael Cole, who had nuclear heat, in his feud with Jerry Lawler and added an interesting dynamic to the build. Swagger then fell by the wayside, working with Vickie Guerrero as his manager and teaming with Dolph Ziggler. Though they were an often overlooked team, Swagger did defeat Zack Ryder for the U.S. Title when Ryder was still super over. Swagger then fell into a three month losing streak and a lot of people guessed he was soon to be released. Unfortunately, this is the time period that Swagger seems to be most remembered for.
After taking time off, Swagger returned with Zeb Coulter and returned to the main event scene, feuding for the World Heavyweight title for months. He would then take some time off for an injury and return to team with Cesaro; who had been taken under the wing of Coulter during his absence. Swagger and Cesaro both benefited from this pairing as Cesaro's run up the card started with the Real Americans. When Cesaro put on a classic with Sami Zayn on NXT, Swagger followed up the next week with another classic match.
Did working with Swagger, and looking like a star next to Swagger, give Cesaro the rub that allowed him to jump up the card? And, if so, does Swagger have a lot more legitimacy than most people are willing to acknowledge? He is the forgotten star, the consummate heel, the guy who is turning into a grizzled veteran and serving as a gate keeper for up-and-coming stars. Swagger has been placed in the role of a main eventer a lot throughout his career, but has it been enough to give him that career making credibility?
