Jake Hager parted ways with AEW last year and it’s pretty evident he isn’t happy about his time there at all. While there was a time he was popular thanks to his purple hat gimmick, it appears AEW ignored his pitches for the gimmick.
While speaking on Sportskeeda Wrestlebinge, Jake Hager was asked about turning his purple hat gimmick into something bigger since it became an unexpected hit and made him stand out. He admitted he was frustrated because the hat became more popular than he was.
“You know, I’m so mad at that purple hat. It’s so much more over than I am.”
When asked if he ever pitched an idea to Tony Khan to build on the gimmick, Hager compared pitching ideas to Khan to pitching something to General Palpatine from Star Wars, making it clear there was no chance of that happening.
“Oh, pitch an idea to General Palpatine? Yes. Yes. Get the f*** out of here.”
This comes after Jake Hager already accused Tony Khan of treating AEW wrestlers like his playthings. While the purple hat gimmick briefly made Jake Hager one of AEW’s most talked-about wrestlers, the company’s failure to build on that momentum left him frustrated and ready to move on. It seems likely Hager will hold a grudge against AEW for a long time, and that feeling isn’t going to change anytime soon.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
Do you think AEW missed a golden opportunity with Jake Hager’s purple hat gimmick? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
September 14, 2025 3:43 pm
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