Jake Hager’s Bellator 231 Fight Quickly Becomes A No Contest
Jake Hager, formerly known as Jack Swagger in WWE, has been busy this year. He joined All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and has competed three times for Bellator MMA within 10 months.
Friday’s Bellator 231 did not last long, nor did it go the way Hager was hoping. His fight with Anthony Garret ended after two accidental groin strikes in the first round (three strikes according to Garrett). The fight was declared a no contest after Garrett could not continue.
The two opened the card with Hager looking to improve his 2-0 record. Despite the bout ending at 1:56 in the first round, Hager showed improvement in his striking and only used a bit of his wrestling background.
Hager started his MMA career with a pair of first round arm triangle choke wins against J.W. Kiser and T.J. Jones. The former NCAA Division I All-American Wrestler likely will not compete again for Bellator until 2020.
After the fight, Hager told the media that he felt Garret wanted out of the fight and used the low blows to his advantage.
Reaction From Fans
Knee The People!#JakeHager#Bellator231 #AEWDynamite
— Klowndike Bill (@MrKlondikeBill) October 26, 2019
If Jake Hager’s wrestling finisher isn’t now “The Hager Effect” of him throwing a knee to the balls, Tony Khan needs to step down.
— Trevor Dame (@TrevorDame) October 26, 2019
Jake Hager is repping his #AEW Inner Circle shirt for his fight at #Bellator231. @IAmJericho
— Stephen Jensen (@FightTalk_) October 26, 2019
Jake Hager just ruined his MMA career with that fight. Also hard to take him seriously when he’s a wearing his pro wrestling shirt and his #AEW buddies are in the crowd acting a fool. There is a reason Lesnar kept his UFC and WWE stuff separately. #Bellator231
— Hollywood’s World of Sports(Joey) (@HWoodWorldSport) October 26, 2019
In attendance was most his AEW stable, The Inner Circle. The Bellator announce team mentioned the group was cage side, minus their leader Chris Jericho. On the debut episode of AEW Dynamite, Hager made a surprise debut and joined the top heel stable of the new promotion.
AEW Planning Push For Scorpio Sky
Speaking of AEW, some of the early names to join the promotion were SCU’s Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky. They entered the tag team tournament, with Daniels having to watch from the sidelines after the Lucha Bros attacked him.
In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, they noted how the Daniels injury angle was done to help build-up Sky. With Sky being the youngest member of SCU, the company is looking to elevate his status.
. @ScorpioSky steps up to the plate! #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/SiIfGur7t7
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEWrestling) October 17, 2019
. @ScorpioSky doing his best to fight back against the #BestFriends #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/dsM7iB1snI
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEWrestling) October 17, 2019
.@ScorpioSky with two functioning shoes this week… unfair?#AEWDynamite #ImWithAEW pic.twitter.com/3Tj8nLPOiE
— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) October 24, 2019
Currently, SCU’s Kazarian & Sky are in the finals to crown the inaugural tag team champions. They will battle the Lucha Bros for that honor this Wednesday on AEW Dynamite.
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