Jake Hager

“When I was competing at Oklahoma in college, I remember always getting a lot of anxiety before wrestling matches. Almost to the point where, 'Oh my gosh, man, this is a lot.'”

“I want people to say that Jack Swagger/Jake Hager is a world champion in MMA and in pro wrestling.”

“I'm lanky and goofy.”

“Kofi Kingston has always been one of my favorite opponents to wrestle. He and I started back in McDonough, Georgia in 2006 in developmental at Deep South together. So, our careers have come along at the same time. He's incredible.”

“Jumping into something new is always challenging with the schedule and the routine and when you can train, and fit that into your life that you already have right now.”

“I feel like being a professional wrestling has definitely made me a better MMA fighter.”

“A lot of people want me to say negative things about WWE, but I'm very grateful for my career there.”

“Pro wrestling fans love surprises, so let's surprise them, and not just give them the old stuff.”

“Going through life is always scary doing something new, at the same time it is very exciting.”

“MMA is very difficult; you can't just be good at wrestling. You need striking, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu and countless other things.”

“Some people work their entire lives to become a professional fighter and see certain guys with exposure or just a name, hop into the professional ranks. It can rub people the wrong way and have them very doubtful of your skills because they see first-hand the hard work and how many years it takes to master this.”

“Zeb Colter is unbelievable, he is priceless.”

“I love being a family man.”

“One of the best pieces of advice I ever got in professional wrestling was use the exposure from cable's number one rated television show to transition and move on to what you want to go into next.”

“People know my name, and because of that, I have more leverage as a professional fighter. And as a professional fighter, as a professional wrestler, that is something we are all battling for. We want to make our brand a name brand and a household name. And that essentially gives us more leverage and helps us provide for our families.”

“I grew up with two cousins from North Dakota who were junior national champions. They're a lot older than me and I looked up to them as my older brothers.”

“You don't see a lot of fighters with no or little experience getting to be on the main card. I know that's an incredible honor, but at the same time, I know my worth, and I know my value.”

“I have a lot of experience with the lights on bright - a lot of people watching and performing on live television.”

“I've heard that I'm a wrestler and not a real fighter, but I have nothing to prove to anybody.”

“Before I signed with WWE, I thought my athletic career was done. I was going into the finance industry and I just thought I couldn't compete any more. But the mind is a really powerful thing and you can unlock your potential if you choose to ignore what your mind is telling you.”