INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS: Jack Swagger on why he’s leaving WWE, whether he plans to continue in pro wrestling or explore MMA

Chael Sonnen interviewed Jack Swagger on his podcast regarding his contract talks with WWE breaking down. The following are key highlights:

•On how things ended in WWE: “As of yesterday, Chael, I asked for my release from WWE. It’s still kind of an ongoing process right now. Basically it came down to a contract negotiation. We were way off. They didn’t value me at what I thought I was valued at. You can be angry about it because wrestling is something you gets so passionate about, but this was a business decision. They weren’t giving me the opportunity to, like, make the full amount of money I could for my family. When you put it like that, it was time for me to go.”

•On his frustrations in WWE: “It’s very frustrating when you’re given an opportunity and you think you’ve knocked it out of the park. Anybody can do better, but when you do well enough to where fans appreciate it and they’re reacting to it and nothing happens to it, it gets really frustrating. Every night we’re putting ourselves through car wrecks entertaining the fans, and we want to know we’re working toward something. The start and stop really, really happens all the time. I’m not the only one. It’s frustrating because you and I come from a background where the best players play. That’s not how it works here. You really have two guys in a room saying ‘these are the best players’ even though the crowd or the fans might like someone more. It’s very frustrating.”

•On what’s next: “I’m going to retire and move to the big ranch in the sky. (laughs) I’m young, I’ll be 35 next month. I left because I wasn’t getting opportunities. As we talked about last time I was on the show, the world of wrestling is broadening every second. It’s a great time to be a wrestler no matter what discipline you’re in. I’m very excited about going to Mexico, U.K., Japan. I’m going to keep on wrestling. If somebody wants to pay me to get in a cage, I’m down.”

•”The longest time WWE was all I knew. Ten years later I’ve been doing it, and I know there’s a great opportunity for people outside of WWE to make money. Let’s be honest, we all have chips on our shoulder. I want to prove to myself I am worth the money I was asking WWE for. I feel for the first time hungry in years which is sad but at the same time exciting. If you’re a Jack Swagger fan, be happy. This is a good thing. I’m not going anywhere. You’re going to hear We the People just as loud over the world all the time.”

NOW CHECK OUT THIS PREVIOUS INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS: INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS: Kurt Angle talks about WWE Hall of Fame, says why he has aspirations and optimism he’ll wrestle again in WWE