Mike Chiari: One of the most memorable time periods of your career so far was your rivalry with Alberto Del Rio entering WrestleMania 29. There were some really realistic and controversial aspects to that feud that helped you and WWE gain some mainstream attention. Looking back at that angle do you feel like WWE struck gold by toeing that line? Is that the type of thing you’d like to see even more of moving forward?
Jack Swagger: Absolutely. It was a very hot topic across the United States. I think the WWE should do more on it along those lines and still stay PG. It made it fun and more relative to our older fans. With the story lines today, it’s very hard to generate natural interest in the WWE universe. You can’t force it down their throats; they are only going to like what they like. Having something that’s already on the tips of their tongues or on their minds, it just makes it that much easier, fun and intense. Any time you can get Glenn Beck crying it’s a good thing.
Brandon Galvin: You’ve played both sides of the “We the People” character. As a proud American, was it difficult for you to play a villain or did you find it was a more entertaining role for yourself?
Jack Swagger: Growing up in Oklahoma, my High School team was renowned and very good. We would walk into places and they would just boo the hell out of us. So from a young age I got a taste of that and I liked it. The more you boo me the better I’m going to wrestle. You don’t like me? So what. It’s a lot of fun to work like that and wrestle with that mindset. I haven’t been on the other side of the ball or the we the people character. It doesn’t have the same type of fulfillment but it’s different as you can imagine Hear the people actual pop for something good or cheer a victory is nice too. I’m not sure which one I like more right now so maybe I’m going to need a six year face run to make sure.
Donald Wood: Over the last two years, you have worked with legendary manager Zeb Colter. He has been around the business for over 40 years and has seen and done almost everything. What are some of the things that he has taught you that have helped you continue to emerge as one of the most reliable wrestlers on the WWE roster?
Jack Swagger: Zeb Colter is unbelievable, he is priceless. I can’t tell you how many things he has helped me, other Superstars, the creative team, and even Vince with. An all-around good person and his experience is almost incomparable in this day and age in sport entertainment. Riding with him he has made me a better driver because he complains all the time. You almost get into one car accident and he never lets you forget it. That aside, with wrestling, it’s a different generation and mentality that still works. You have to take the match like that, work like that, and have that mentality. I think the main thing with him is he wants physicality. He has worked with me on a lot of things like my size and being more physical and when to do something in a certain spot. The best thing about him being out there is you never know what he is going to say ringside. There has been so many times he has said something and made me pop and I laughed right in the middle of the ring. That may be bad for some matches that’s always a good thing with me.
Mike Chiari: A lot of fans are aware of your background as a wrestler and football player at the University of Oklahoma, but I’m not sure many know what type of role Jim Ross played in terms of getting you into the sports entertainment business. How did that whole situation and opportunity come about and how would you describe your relationship with JR?
Jack Swagger: I started playing football in 2001, the year after the won the National championship. I actually met Jerry Briscoe 2004 when I was half way through and he introduced me to Jim. Whenever they were in town we would get together and talk college wrestling or wrestling in general. We would talk football with Jim and have dinner. Of course they told me about it, I’m a big guy and good looking. They always said finish your degree finish college and if you want to give this a shot we will be here waiting. The last semester of college I interviewed for so many finance firms and security exchanges. There were so many jobs there but the opportunity just wasn’t as good as what the WWE was presenting. You should have seen the look on my parents faces when I told them that I was going to do it but it ended out working out pretty well. I graduated in May 2006 and by July of 2006 I was signed and moved to Deep South Wrestling.
Brandon Galvin: You’re known in WWE for your ankle lock submission and your overall submission skills. How difficult is it to create new types of submission holds or even working in different holds into your matches?
Jack Swagger: It is one of the processes of being a Superstar, to always be evolving. It’s hard because everything has been done and seen before. To find something that works you can only find through trying something out there in the ring. You have to try it out there, see how it works, and see what it looks like. It is very difficult but it is very possible. Another thing too with so many guys on the roster and in NXT there are only so many moves you can do without someone else doing them. That is rule number one to me; don’t do anything else that someone else is doing. You want to be yourself and stand out. To find a move that works, stands out, and separates you from everyone else, it is hard but you can do it.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
