Jake Hager, a former world heavyweight champion, has opened up about feeling disrespected during contract renewal negotiations with WWE, which ultimately led to his departure. Hager, who had been with WWE since a tryout in 2006 until his official release in March 2017, revealed on the Saraya podcast that the offers he received felt dismissive, prompting him to look for opportunities elsewhere. He explained that the contract proposals were so unsatisfactory that he decided to leave WWE, inspired in part by the success of Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes in the independent wrestling scene after their own WWE exits.
After leaving WWE, Hager wrestled on the independent circuit and also competed in Bellator before joining AEW in October 2019, where he remained until November 2024. Feeling underestimated by WWE, Hager sought to prove his true value in AEW, suggesting that some wrestlers may be overlooked by WWE due to financial considerations. Recently, Hager announced his retirement from wrestling, closing the chapter on a career highlighted by his reigns as ECW and WWE US Champion and his world heavyweight championship.
Fan Take: This revelation sheds light on the challenges wrestlers face behind the scenes in WWE, emphasizing the growing appeal of AEW as a place where talent feels recognized and valued. For AEW fans, Hager’s journey represents the broader shift in wrestling dynamics, where wrestlers seek platforms that respect their worth and contribute to the sport’s evolution.
