Update On Why Former WWE World Champion Retired and Prefers Life Outside of The Ring
On August 7, during Saraya’s Rulebreakers podcast, Jake Hager made it official: he’s done with pro wrestling. Hager explained that he’s shifted his focus to a Florida-based trucking company he now operates—running routes across Tampa and the wider state. He enjoys that he’s not behind the wheel himself; he’s managing the business and, as he put it, finally has “something to really sink [his] teeth into.”
From ECW Breakout to World Title
Hager debuted on WWE’s ECW brand in 2008, quickly grabbing the ECW Championship before climbing to the top of the card with a World Heavyweight Title win over Chris Jericho. By 2017, he says tense contract talks left him feeling disrespected, and he exited WWE. He resurfaced with AEW in 2019, where he remained until 2024.
“Sick of the Business”
On Story Time with Dutch Mantell, Hager’s former manager suggested the decision had been years in the making: fatigue with the industry set in long ago, and while AEW provided a paycheck, the company “did nothing” with him creatively. Hager’s no-filter reputation didn’t help—his outspoken remarks about AEW President Tony Khan preceded his removal from multiple appearances, underscoring a rocky end to that run.
🗣️ Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
This reads like a classic burnout pivot. Hager had legit highs—fast-tracked in WWE, a world title run, and a visible role in AEW—but never found a sustained top-tier groove after his early push. His comments about feeling disrespected in negotiations, plus Dutch Mantell’s “sick of the business” line, point to a veteran who hit his ceiling on TV and chose stability over the grind. The trucking play signals long-term thinking: recurring revenue, predictable hours, and control—things wrestlers rarely enjoy on the road. Could he pop up for a one-off someday? Never say never. But for now, this looks like a clean break from the weekly churn.
