In 2010, Jake Hager, then known as Jack Swagger, won the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 26 and cashed in the briefcase just days later to become the World Heavyweight Champion. Hager has confirmed a long-standing rumor that the original plan was for him to cash in on then-WWE Champion John Cena, a plan that Cena himself allegedly vetoed.
“He Absolutely Refused to Do It”
According to Hager, the original creative direction for his cash-in was changed at the last minute due to Cena’s refusal to drop the title to him. On the Insight with Chris Van Vliet podcast, host Chris Van Vliet asked Hager directly if there was truth to the rumor that John Cena didn’t want to “put him over.”
“Oh, yeah, he absolutely refused to do it… I was told that was what happened. Because the original plan was [that] I was going to beat him Monday night on Raw and not do the tease. But like, I’m a young guy. I mean, I’ve been there for a cup of coffee, so what are you going to do?”
Hager cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on March 30, 2010, on the SmackDown show to win the World Heavyweight Championship from Chris Jericho.
“I’m Not the Only Guy”
Hager went on to say that he doesn’t believe he was the only performer that Cena was unwilling to lose to during that period of his career. He also noted that he was surprised to see Cena’s recent willingness to work with and elevate talent like R-Truth during his farewell tour.
“But like, I’m not the only guy. He’s done that too. He did that throughout his career. I was surprised to see what happened with him in Truth lately, because usually, like, he tried to take that glory, but I feel like this time he’s the one who said, we better go with Truth and get him back here.”
Jake Hager recently retired from professional wrestling and has started his own trucking company in Florida. You can hear the latest episode of Insight With Chris Van Vliet below:
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Chris Van Vliet with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
