Jake Hager Says He Doubts WWE Wants Him Back for Royal Rumble

Jake Hager isn’t holding out for one last pop. The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion, who officially retired from professional wrestling earlier this year, is shutting down any speculation that he could return for a surprise appearance at the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia.

In a recent interview with Sportskeeda, Hager was asked directly if fans might see him make a one-night return for the Rumble match. His response was blunt and to the point: “I sincerely doubt it.”

When asked to elaborate on why a return isn’t likely, Hager added: “I don’t think they like me very much.” Pressed to clarify who exactly he was referring to, Hager didn’t name names—but made it clear who he believed had no interest in bringing him back: “Whoever books the Royal Rumble.”

Hager hasn’t competed in a WWE ring since 2017. He spent nearly a decade in the company under the ring name Jack Swagger, where he racked up an impressive resume that included the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, ECW Title, and United States Championship. Known for his amateur wrestling credentials and the “We The People” chant that became a crowd favorite, he was once a regular feature on WWE programming.

After his WWE departure, Hager reinvented himself. He entered the world of MMA and signed with Bellator, where he remained undefeated through his first few fights. In 2019, he jumped to AEW and joined Chris Jericho’s Inner Circle as Jake Hager, playing the enforcer role for the faction. While he had some big matches, including title bouts and stadium stampede appearances, his in-ring work slowed by 2023, and he quietly exited the company in 2024.

It wasn’t until his appearance on the Rule Breakers with Sayara podcast that Hager confirmed he was officially retired from wrestling altogether. On the show, he casually revealed he was now focused full-time on running a trucking business in Tampa, Florida.

“I’m getting out of wrestling. I pretty much—I could say I’m retired from it.”

He added that he’s not behind the wheel himself, but oversees routes being run across the state.

“I started a trucking company and so… running routes through Tampa and Florida. I’m not driving—got people driving. But yeah, I’m excited. Something to stick my teeth into. Hard work always pays off.”

And in classic Hager fashion, his company has a name that shows he hasn’t lost his sense of humor: Hauling Oats.

From world titles and cage fights to running a logistics company, Hager has fully pivoted into a new phase of life—and he’s not looking over his shoulder.

With the 2026 Royal Rumble taking place on January 31 in Saudi Arabia, WWE is expected to bring in legends and surprises as they’ve done in the past. But Jake Hager doesn’t think he’ll get the call—and based on his words, he wouldn’t answer it anyway.