WWE: 10 Ways Jack Swagger Can Get Back in the Title Picture

In April 2010, Jack Swagger was SmackDown's World Heavyweight Champion.

But now? Eh, not so much.

Though the All-American American is not in a terrible position on Monday Night Raw, he's not exactly main event or competing for World titles, either.

As a big fan of Swagger, I find that to be a bit disappointing because he's one of the WWE's best big men and a guy who I think could be a legitimate main-eventer for years to come.

It's all about how the WWE books him, but the creative team hasn't exactly been his best friend as of late. No worries, though.

I'm here today to look at 10 ways that Swagger can get rolling again and find his way back into the World title picture.

Note: I'll list them in order from least likeliest to likeliest (in my opinion, of course).

10. Win the Royal Rumble

I'll just be honest and tell you that, given the way he's been booked in recent months, I think Jack Swagger's got about a .01 percent chance of winning the 2012 Royal Rumble.

But I guess you never really know.

Much like Swagger's Money in the Bank win, a shocking Royal Rumble victory could catapult Swagger from an afterthought to a big-time player on Monday Night Raw.

It's highly unlikely that that happens, though.

In fact, it it does somehow happen, I'll give every one who comments on my story one dollar. Just kidding.

9. Challenge Undertaker's Streak at WrestleMania 28

I remember watching the match in that video and thinking to myself, "Man, a match at a big-time pay-per-view between Jack Swagger and The Undertaker could be really good."

Taker works well with just about anybody, Swagger's one of the WWE's most athletic big men and the two seemed to have some very real chemistry the few times that they faced each other one-on-one.

I'm sure that Undertaker will wrestle a more established veteran at WrestleMania 28, but if the WWE does the right thing and has him compete against an up-and-comer, Swagger should definitely be in the mix.

Given Swagger's size, power and technical ability, he's one of the few men who on the roster who could hang with Taker and make it look believable.

Swagger doesn't even have to win (which he wouldn't anyway). He just has to compete with Taker and give him a good match, and then, people will start to recognize just how good he is.

8. Write Him off of TV for a While

I know what you're thinking: How is writing Jack Swagger off of TV going to help him?

Bu my basic thought behind this is, "You'll never know how much you're gonna miss something until it's gone."

I think that could be what happens with Swagger.

Swagger goes away for a while and then comes back in one of two ways. Either the WWE promotes his re-debut through video packages (like they did with Brodus Clay), or he returns in a huge angle by attacking a main-eventer.

It doesn't matter if you want to bring him back as a heel or a baby face. The point is that an absence for Swagger could make fans forget about the old Swagger and look ahead to what should be a bright future for the new All-American American.

7. Let Vickie's Stable Grow

Ever heard the old phrase "Strenght in numbers?"

Well, I certainly think that would help Jack Swagger.

Let's say that Dolph Ziggler moves on from Vickie Guerrero's stable, and then Swagger becomes its biggest star. The idea would then be that Vicke recruits wrestlers to join the faction, but being that he's the group's most senior member, Swagger gets the biggest push of all the wrestlers.

He gets Vickie to cut his promos, he gets the most TV time and he gets the first title shots.

The faction's younger members would work to get Swagger a number of golden opportunities, and of course, they'd then revolt against him whenever he had any type of success at the main event level.

6. Book Him Like His Size Would Indicate

So, let me get this straight: You can push guys like Ezekiel Jackson, Mason Ryan and Mark Henry, but you can't do the same for Jack Swagger?

I call B.S.

Swagger is actually taller and more talented than the three wrestlers I mentioned, so you would think that the WWE would be able to book him much like they often book those guys: as an unstoppable monster.

I mean, think about—would it really be that hard to believe that Swagger could just beat the crap out of people a la Henry?

Hell no, it wouldn't.

Swagger stands at 6'6" and about 260 pounds. The guy's a beast and someone who could be the top heel on a brand...if only he was pushed like less talented wrestlers are.

5. Remain Associates with Dolph Ziggler

It's only a matter of when, not if, Dolph Ziggler will be elevated to the main event scene, and I expect that to happen sometime between now and WrestleMania 28.

So, let's say that he and Jack Swagger both stick with Vickie Guerrero until then and remain "associates" (or whatever you want to call them) in the process. Maybe it's just me, but I like to believe that being paired with Ziggler would make Swagger's rise to the title picture more likely.

If they're still comrades, Swagger could turn on Ziggler (or vice versa), and the two could feud just like most duos do when they split.

Only this time, it would involve the WWE Championship.

Swagger vs. Ziggler with the WWE title on the line provides the potential for a big-man/little-man matchup that could give us some great matches between two up-and-coming stars.

And that's exactly what the company should be doing. 

4. Move to SmackDown

Monday Raw has seen some stars, such as The Miz, rise to the top of the brand over the last couple of years.

But, for the most part, it's more likely that a superstar will be elevated to the main event/World title scene quicker on Friday Night SmackDown.

See: Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes, Mark Henry and Christian.

Of course, that isn't always the case, but judging by what we've seen recently, it seems like Jack Swagger would have a more realistic shot of competing for a World title if he was on the blue brand.

I think we could see Swagger back on Friday nights after the 2012 WWE Draft, and it would be a wise move to put one of the company's better pure wrestlers on the show that emphasizes in-ring competition more than promos.

3. Change His Gimmick

What exactly is Jack Swagger's gimmick? A guy with a goofy griffin?

I suppose his All-American American shtick is at least somewhat OK for a heel, but it's nothing new or out of the ordinary. He doesn't do much to separate himself from the average WWE heel.

Hello, gimmick change.

I'm not sure how you could switch Swagger from a cocky jock to something else, but I, for one, think it would be a nice change to see him become almost a Daniel Bryan-type of wrestler: A submission specialist who focuses on what goes on in the ring more than anything else.

It wouldn't give Swagger much of a gimmick, but it's much better than him being the same arrogant, high school athlete type of character that we've seen countless of times through the years.

2. Stick with Vickie Guerrero

The last two wrestlers to be paired with Vickie Guerrero full-time were Edge and Dolph Ziggler, and both of those guys ranked among the WWE's top heels when managed by Vickie.

Though one could argue that Edge and Ziggler excelled more so because of their own skills, the common link between them was still Ms. Excuse Me.

Needless to say, Vickie equals heat, and Swagger would certainly benefit from sticking with her as his manager for the long run.

She can do all his talking for him and let Swagger do all his work in the ring, which is essentially the perfect combination for a guy who is a great wrestler but struggles on the mic a bit.

If Vickie remains Swagger's manager for another six months or so, I don't think it's out of the question that we'll see Swagger slowly but surely work his way up the card.

1. Turn Babyface

Wrestling fans seem to be split over the idea of a baby face turn for Jack Swagger, with some arguing that it wouldn't work and others arguing that it could be just what he needs to elevate him to the main event scene.

I tend to agree with the latter.

I know people are tired of the Kurt Angle comparisons, but he and Swagger are at least slightly similarly. They're both guys with extensive amateur wrestling backgrounds, they've both got the whole "All-American" thing going and they both use the ankle lock as a finisher.

Thus, I think Swagger—much like Angle—could easily work as a face if he focused on both his skills in the ring and his patriotism as an American.

Fans would have almost no choice but to cheer for Swagger if he came out supporting America every time he entered the arena and then subsequently beat the crap out of some of the WWE's top heels.

That baby face turn could be just what Swagger needs to go from forgettable mid-carder to bona fide main-eventer.