Former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Breaks Silence After Getting Knocked Out

After getting knocked out at a recent competition, a former WWE World Heavyweight Champion finally opened up about the same. The star in question is Jake Hager (fka Jack Swagger).

Jake Hager gained prominence during his time in WWE as ‘Jack Swagger,’ where he also once held the World Heavyweight Championship. He later had a run in AEW until his departure in 2024. Last year, Hager shockingly announced his retirement from pro wrestling and moved on to other endeavours.

Earlier this year, Jake Hager joined the UFC Power Slap competition. Hager recently competed against Amanpreet Singh, who is known as ‘Mahabali Shera’ in the pro wrestling world, in the Power Slap competition. With a hard-hitting slap, Amanpreet managed to knock Hager out in the third round.

The clip of Jake Hager getting knocked out by a slap was going viral all over social media, and Hager has finally broken the silence on the viral moment. Speaking on Busted Open Radio, the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion was asked whether he was offended by the jokes made on him after being knocked out. Hager said he is not offended while talking about his loss:

Not at all. I knew ahead of this, going into this, that it was knockout or get knocked out, and that getting knocked out was going to generate just as much as getting a knockout.”

Now, of course, that’s not the result I wanted, but still, when you have a name like mine and you’re going into a sport like Power Slap, it is an advantage, and I will use it.” [H/T Ringside News]

Jake Hager says he wasn't offended by the online reaction to his Power Slap knockout loss, stressing that he understood exactly what he signed up for. "Not at all," Hager said when asked if the criticism bothered him, adding that he "knew ahead of this" what could happen.

Hager… pic.twitter.com/QE1tjlrbsZ

— Pro Wrestling & MMA News (@PWMMANews) July 16, 2026

The former WWE World Champion doesn’t rule out a return to wrestling

Earlier this year, former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Jake Hager (fka Jack Swagger) was asked whether he would be open to a return to wrestling despite announcing retirement last year. Hager said he retired when he was banged up but wouldn’t rule out wrestling again:

Oh, definitely. Definitely. When I retired, my body was banged up pretty badly like I told you guys, my shoulders were hanging on by a thread. The everything’s a lot better now and healthier, you know, it’s like difference a little time off creates. And so, I wouldn’t rule out me wrestling again. I think I’d like to get back in there actually.”

Only time will tell if the erstwhile Jack Swagger will ever make his return to the WWE.