WWE Raw: Jack Swagger Is the Worst United States Champion in Recent Memory

The WWE's United States Championship had a good year in 2011, sadly, 2012 isn't looking so hot.  Jack Swagger is the United States Champion, and he's just plain terrible.

Dolph Ziggler held the U.S. Championship 182 days last year, and saw his stock rise with the belt on his waist and Vickie Guerrero on the microphone.  Ziggler dropped the title to Zack Ryder after a properly built feud between the two led to a big payoff at TLC.  

Ryder's reign would only last 29 days, despite being one of the hottest midcard attractions, losing the United States Championship to Jack Swagger on Raw when he was sent out to wrestle with a kayfabe injury.

Swagger's character has lacked direction for quite some time now.  He was halfheartedly feuding with Dolph Ziggler when Ziggler was the United States Champion, but after joining up with Vickie Guerrero, that angle got flushed down the toilet along with any semblance of mic skills Swagger had up to that point.

Whether it's intentional or not, Swagger comes across as a dumb jock in every promo he cuts.  His delivery is weak, and timing is off.  He's a worse case than Dolph Ziggler was when he first joined up with Vickie Guerrero.

As for his in-ring abilities, he's not exactly a thrill to watch.  His move set is as simplified as John Cena's and if you're lucky, you'll catch him mocking opponents while they're down, much like Dolph Ziggler.

Why the WWE felt Swagger was ready to take the title off of Zack Ryder is a bit of a mystery.  They may have hopes that Swagger can grow much like Ziggler did when he was under Vickie Guerrero and held the United States Championship.  

The best case scenario is that Swagger is simply a placeholder for Zack Ryder while he's "injured" and filming WWE programming.  Regardless of how long Swagger may hold the United States Championship, the fact is that he's got the belt tonight, and on Raw, we'll be treated to a (hopefully small) taste of the worst United Sates Champion in recent memory.