Jake Hager isn’t the only man in AEW with some MMA training.
The company isn’t exactly dripping with MMA veterans like WWE is, but the likes of Scorpio Sky have competed in mixed martial arts in the past. MMA training has become way more prevalent in the pro wrestling world, however. Jon Moxley has been a part of that, training for a movie role and taking those talents to Bloodsport and FSW matches. Earlier in 2020, Jake Hager got to experience those skills first-hand in a physical AEW World Title match.
“Man, it was really cool and honestly it was really stress relieving,” Hager said of the knock-down, drag out battle. “We didn’t call a lot of that grappling in there. It was really cool to get in there and kinda feel each other out. How it came across on camera I know we’re both very proud of. The fact that there was no audience in there, actually we think it made the match better. Because, like you said, it’s not new to Moxley’s style, but at the time we were really doing something a little bit different, maybe something a little slow, more technical. But, it was really cool. He’s a great friend of mine. He has done an amazing job as an AEW World Champion. No need for him to drop that title any time soon. He is just really showing you what a champion does and really helping us grow this brand. The best part of the whole thing is, we pre-filmed that and we filmed that on March 24th, which was my birthday. So, I got to wrestle for the AEW World Championship against my friend on my birthday in 2020. That was like the only cool thing about 2020, I think.”
Moxley would emerge victorious, handing Hager his first loss in All Elite Wrestling.
You can see Hager apply his legitimate fighting skills this week, as he competes on Thursday, October 29 against Brandon Calton at Bellator 250. You can watch the fight on CBS Sports Network and see Hager every Wednesday night on All Elite Wrestling Dynamite on TNT.
Hager competes on Thursday, October 29 against Brandon Calton at Bellator 250. You can watch the fight on CBS Sports Network and see Hager every Wednesday night on All Elite Wrestling Dynamite on TNT. Check out our full interview with Hager at the top of the page.
