Former WWE and AEW wrestlers have announced their retirement from in-ring competition following their final matches scheduled for November 2024. Jake Hager, previously known in WWE as Jack Swagger, left AEW in May 2024 after his contract ended, concluding his four-year tenure with the promotion.
Post-AEW, Hager remained active on the independent wrestling circuit throughout 2024 but has since stepped back from wrestling following his last match in November. He revealed that he believed he had retired after launching a trucking business in Florida. Hager shared, “I’m out of wrestling. I can say I’m almost—I’ve retired from that. I started a trucking company and I’m driving routes through Tampa and Florida. I’m not driving myself; I drove people before. I’m excited.”
Hager enjoyed an 11-year WWE career before joining AEW in 2020. Highlight moments include winning the World Heavyweight Championship in 2010 at WrestleMania 26 and contending for the same title again at WrestleMania 29 in 2013, where he lost to Alberto Del Rio. After leaving WWE in 2017, he pursued MMA and achieved a 3-0 record with Bellator.
Fan Take: This retirement marks the end of an era for AEW, as experienced talent like Jake Hager helped shape the company’s identity. For AEW fans, it signals potential shifts and fresh opportunities within the sport as new stars rise to fill the void left by seasoned veterans.
