One person who’s been notably absent on WWE television over the last several months has been former Money in the Bank winner and World Heavyweight Champion Jack Swagger. Apparently Swagger’s morale has been getting worse during his time off, and it’s getting so bad that he’s considering leaving WWE very soon if things don’t turn around for him.

Swagger hasn’t been involved in anything significant since his feud with Rusev ended last year. Every now and then WWE will bring Swagger back for a random one-on-one match with the “Bulgarian Brute” which Swagger will, of course, lose.

When WWE signed Swagger to one of their developmental territories back in 2006, their plan was to eventually have him be the new Kurt Angle. At that time, Angle had just left WWE and joined TNA. WWE felt a need to replace him, and Swagger was their man. Even though he had the amateur wrestling credentials to do so, he didn’t have the in-ring ability or personality that Angle had, which, unfortunately, made WWE hesitant to keep him in the main event scene after he won his first World Title in 2010.

It’s unclear what Swagger would do if he left WWE. He’s 33-years-old and a former NCAA All-American as an amateur wrestler, so a career in MMA could be on the table. Both Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley — who have the same amateur credentials as Swagger — started their MMA journey in their early 30s. Lesnar, of course, became the UFC Heavyweight Champion and the most popular fighter in the history of the company. Lashley has had stellar MMA career, with a record of 13-2 after he picked up a win at tonight’s Bellator 138 via TKO. It’s possible that, due to Swagger’s name identity from WWE, Bellator will be interested in signing him.

It’s unlikely that Swagger will go to TNA given the current state of the company, and it’s extremely unlikely that he’ll end up going to Ring of Honor. A career in MMA may be the best possible move for Swagger.

There’s a chance that WWE will be able to convince Swagger to stay, but if Swagger is too hard-headed about it, it’s very likely that, because he’s not a top guy, WWE will just let him go.

They've tried making him work. It ain't ever happening.

Yeah WWE should just let him go if they have nothing planned for him.

He's really not that good, certainly not enough to be more than midcard.

He's actually very good. It's just his pot thing killed anything for him

He isn't very good, like at all. He doesn't look remotely comfortable on camera and when he tries to come across as intense (eg. screaming and hitting his chest) he just looks cringeworthy.

That and his promo skills are non-existent.

and looks like he combs his hair with fried chicken

About nine years too late if they're going to release him.

Everyone not happy with WWE, from fans to stars.

Yeah, I get not using Swagger. The guy is good in the ring, he has good size and his amateur credentials are impeccable. His psychology is solid, too, but he has zero charisma and cant connect with the fans. His last chance to break through was his big heel run with Zeb, but Swagger messed that up himself with the drug bust. He has no one to blame but himself.

I remember similar stories of him considering to leave a couple of years ago, but they died down when he got that push heading into WrestleMania 29.

If he thinks he can do MMA, he ought to go.

This article didn't even speculate if he has any interest in MMA. It just said "well wrestling isn't working out for him so well, so maybe he could do MMA I guess?"

Swagger is certainly not bad in the ring, but he's not a performer by any means. I enjoyed his run with Zeb, but without a mouthpiece he doesn't bring much to the table. Unless he brings that eagle mascot back, of course.

Even with the mouthpiece he's nothing special. Once they get Chad Gable up to speed they'd make an interesting tag team option.

He looks so awkward pretty much all the time. He isn't believable in anything he does for me.

Plus his role over the past year has to job to Rusev xD

Well I'm taking Swagger/Gable over The Ascension and Los Matadores.

Dude, I'd take literally two manikins as a tag team than Los Matadores. <_<

Los Matadores are great. They just have a gimmick that was definitely set to go nowhere. Although, I preferred Carlito over Epico.

The wrestlers are good, yes, but the gimmick is beyond terrible.

I miss Primo, Epico and Rosa. Those were good times.

CARLITO!?!?!