Jack Swagger, a former WWE World Heavyweight Champion, was arrested on Tuesday night in Gulfport, Mississippi after being pulled over for speeding, marijuana possession and DUI.
According to the Sun Herald, Swagger, whose real name is Donald Jacob Hager Jr., performed at WWE Smackdown just two hours before being pulled over. His car was towed and he was later released into custody of a friend. Hager is facing nearly $2,000 in fined and could also lose his license for 90 days.
Swagger, who is 6-foot-7, 260-pounds and is charged with all misdemeanors. He was performing at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and is next scheduled to appear in court on March 12. The 30-year-old wrestler is also scheduled to take on WWE World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio at Wrestlemania 29 this April.
Swagger is known as "The All-American" and uses a number of signature moves, including powerbombs and ankle locks. HE had a six-month hiatus from the sport, but returned in January with long hair and beard, acting as a man who is trying to keep immigrants out of the country.
On Monday Night Raw this past week, Swagger and his partner Zeb Colter issued a "State of the Union" railing against government immigration policies. Swagger is a controversial figure in wrestling and is modeled as an anti-Latino, Tea Party-inspired character.
"I see people with faces not like mine," Colters says. "I see people that I don't even know what they're saying. They can't even talk to me. And I look around and I think, where did all these people come from? But most importantly I think, how do we get rid of 'em?"
Many took offense to the portrayal, including conservative website that said he portrays the party as racist, although that is part of their platform.
"WWE is creating drama centered on a topical subject that has varying points of view to develop a rivalry between two characters," a spokesman told the Hollywood Reporter. "This storyline in no way represents WWE's political point of view."
The wrestler has been pulled from events this weekend and he may be pulled from his Wreslemania match later this year. He is also scheduled to fight on Monday Night Raw next week.
