Jim Cornette Reviews A&E's Jake "The Snake" Roberts Biography

From Episode 283 of the Jim Cornette's Drive Thru
Artwork by Travis Heckel!
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[@youngstownassault2438]

I will never forget meeting Jake at a pizza place in my town where he was signing autographs when he was REALLY down and out. My friend walked up to him and said to him "how are you doing?" he replied "I'M MISERABLE" and you could tell he 100% meant it. I believe that weekend he was pulled over and got a DUI from the local police.

[@AWX_Wrestling]

I met Jake at a local wrestling show in my area, just after he had been inducted into the WWE HOF. He was happy and joking around with the fans. It was good to see him in a better place after all years of misery and drug addiction. I have to say, though, that to this day I am baffled as to how he is still alive. With all the drugs and alcohol he has consumed in his life and the number of wrestlers who have ODed and died from health issues brought on by drug and alcohol abuse. Somehow, someway, Jake's still alive and kicking. Honestly, after watching the "Beyond the Mat" documentary I gave him five years tops before he would be dead and gone.

[@youngstownassault2438]

@@AWX_Wrestling I have a friend who is now a WWE wrestler and we used to always be able to do in ring stuff w him when he was starting out. One time Jake Roberts was scheduled to appear on a card w him. I did not attend this one but my best friends did. Jake was out of his mind and very disrespectful. A bunch of guys were waiting for him outside to jump him and beat his ass after the show as a result BUT he exposed himself in the ring/pulled his dick out and got arrested. This was around the same time I saw him at the pizza shop. Its good that he is doing better bc at that time he was a real mess.

[@kushmoosh4171]

Good for you stay strong

[@benwiseman3051]

Jake is an inspiration for me, if someone like him can get clean and stay clean then I have belief I can too. Been 3 years clean and sober now.

[@AllsparkSupremacy]

👌

[@dankbuds4203]

Nice, i got 5 myself. It can def be done and was a good show for sure

[@davey3884]

😂

[@J.Pelle87]

Right on brother. September 3rd 2020.

[@mattjindrak]

Good on you, keep it up!!!

[@David-fanboy]

Best short armed clothesline in the game which you don’t see much anymore. His promos were so psychologically good. The “Wallowing in the Muck of Avarice” promo before he faced Dibiase at WM 6 was fantastic.

[@metalanarchy5186]

It was up there My faviorte all time closthlines were of corse Cowboy Stan Hansens the Steiner Liners by Rick and Scott Jbl I liked Vaders Jakes and even taker and Kanes flying closthline I know some of them were different type of closthlines but those ones all could have been finshes Road warroior Hawks fyling closthline to

[@shaunk6925]

"He's like an evil Wilford Brimley" So basically Wilford Brimley in the second half of The Thing

[@jtomac652]

Jake's biography was really well done one of the best I've seen.

[@richardruggio212]

Sad story

[@Cruising_On_Lake_Havasoma]

I haven't seen this one but I saw the one that WWE did like 20 years ago and put out on DVD. It was really well done but depressing as fuck.

[@Rjensen2]

​@@Cruising_On_Lake_Havasoma Fuck is depressing?

[@pillboss1987]

Raven had a good DDT. The way he threw his legs up when he landed made it seem like he’s throwing all of his weight backwards and your head is going too.

[@Heller103085]

I always thought ravens was the best, the kick and the leg up and the way the opponent is supposed to go flat down instead of flipping over or whatever

[@thomastownsend2702]

@@Heller103085 @pillboss1987 I think the 2nd best version of the DDT was either Raven or Arn Anderson

[@MilMaska]

"I'm still stupid. I still do what I'm not supposed to do. Are you serious? I'm Jake 'The Snake,' man. I never claimed to be the sharpest knife in the drawer." - Jake Roberts

[@foleynj86]

I met Jake Roberts at his comedy show in St Louis. I said he was inspiration to me even though I haven't had addiction but mental health issues. He shook my hand and was very humble. Fitting from a guy who was one of my favorite wrestlers when I started watching wrestling at 5 years old.

[@D-Fens_1632]

Aw man, I wished I'd have known about that. This comment is 5 months old so I imagine it was a while ago, I didn't hear about it anywhere.

[@foleynj86]

@@D-Fens_1632 Yes. It was April 2019.

[@televiper11]

Jake’s long & lanky frame and lack of musculature also set him apart from everyone else.

[@MajorMotions]

That DDT is of one first moves that every kid did on their siblings and friends growing up, because it was so easy to do, and it looked so cool and devastating!

[@lodi70005]

As a kid, I use to get my sister with surprise DDT’s “out of nowhere”. I would sneakily untie her show while eating dinner, and when she’d get up, I’d say “your shoe is untied”. When she bent over to tie it…BAM! In fact, Christmas dinner in 1992, I got her so good with a perfectly executed DDT, that I cured her stutter. It truly was a Christmas miracle!

[@thomastownsend2702]

Jake's DDT was one of the most over finishing moves in the history of wrestling

[@kenthegamer]

Jake had the last laugh against his dad.

[@pleaseshutup7053]

Exposed him thankful Jake got clean to tell the story

[@kenthegamer]

@@pleaseshutup7053 Became a bigger star too

[@shadowangel2235]

Not really, because Smith died without ever going behind bars/the chair/the gas chamber/whatever. He lived a comfortable life being a pedophile and obviously now that he's dead he couldn't care less about the truth being revealed. So, if anything, he got the last laugh on Jake, because he suffered and still suffers, without ever getting proper "revenge".

[@nixrob6145]

Is his Dad in the HOF 🧐

[@maxxdahl6062]

@@nixrob6145 No.

[@retepoteil]

I agree one of the best things about these biographies is seeing the old footage. I’ll be watching it and saying wow I remember watching that when it happened

[@CarloisBuriedAlive]

The WWE has done a LOT with their video library. Documentaries, collections, and making it available to everybody

[@metallicbigtoe3949]

"He's like an evil Wilfred Brimley" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 that truly is one of the best ever !

[@chico1680]

I believe Brian's incorrect about the Taker match being the only time Jake didn't bring out the snake because, there was a ban on Jake bringing out snakes by Jack Tunney after the cobra bite to Savage a few months early

[@everybodywantstoruletherad279]

That Jack Tunney was a real mean son a gun.

[@CarloisBuriedAlive]

There’s some of that A+ Brian research

[@ShredderLivesOn]

The story that Jake Roberts has told about his WCW deal (for whatever that's worth) is that Grizzly Smith convinced Kip Frey to sign Jake for a multi-million dollar deal. The best report I can find was that it was worth about $750,000 guaranteed per year for three years, with an option to extend. However during the 90 day period between his WWF release and being able to sign the WCW contract, Kip Frey was replaced by Bill Watts. Watts was known to be cutting a lot of contracts at the time, to where Brian Pillman refused to take a cut even when Watts threatened to job him out and supposedly told him "Then I'll be the highest paid jobber in wrestling". And Watts reportedly with just three days to go ripped up the contract for Jake, knowing that Jake had burned his bridge with McMahon, and got him to sign a deal for about $300,000 per year.

[@TheeCoachg]

Yup. Same thing Jim Herd did to Arn Anderson basically but Corny aint gonna make Watts look like a POS for bait and switching a guy on a contract.

[@kenthegamer]

Jake the Snake is one of the best at psychology in pro wrestling. Guy got people to pop every night by circling his finger

[@ZBR_ProXP]

*psychology

[@helterskelter2274]

The fact that Jake had all these demons is one of the many reasons he is talked about today ..there will be no a and e documentaries on these ballet dancers they have on t.v now

[@UziBlancoOfficial]

They'll be fishing (no pun intended) with stuff like riddle banging porn stars and most likely vinces story once he's gone..

[@denvercalvert9122]

I was a young teen in Cape Town when WWE was in South Africa, this was after his King of the Ring match with Stone Cold, I met Jake at an evening church service at the Good Hope Christian Center in my neighborhood, after he gave his testimony. I didn't become a church going man, but will always remember a few of the life lessons he shared that night😁

[@impalaman9707]

As someone who grew up on Mid South wrestling in the early to mid 1980s, Grizzly Smith was always portrayed on TV in that era as a kindly old grandfatherly gentleman---a real "Gentle Ben", if you will---who was patient with the wrestlers and complimented by the ring announcers for making phenomenal matches. I never saw the monster behind the scenes that everyone else talks about

[@damian_cross]

"He's like an evil Wilfred Brimley." - Jim Cornette on Jake the snake

[@newhere2419]

hard to comprehend how the DDT went from easily the most feared finisher in wrestling to a set up move

[@terminallumbago6465]

Same way the super kick doesn’t even get a two-count now

[@willhorting5317]

Yes... the DDT; piledriver; superkick; brain buster suplex; powerbomb...30-40 years ago, they were all finishing moves that almost no one kicked out of the cover that followed. But in today's wrestling, no matter which promotion or who does the move, opponents barely act like those moves "hurt". Because today's wrestlers have forgotten how to actually sell the moves.

[@terminallumbago6465]

@@willhorting5317 It seems like wrestling isn’t as much about storytelling anymore. It’s about acrobatics and highspotting.

[@willhorting5317]

@@terminallumbago6465 exactly. And I know that many "fans" complain and point fingers at the AEW talent for "trampoline moves". And rightly so. But WWE talent... and NJPW, etc...are just as bad. I truly miss the in-ring "story telling" of when I became a fan in the 1980s.

[@goodday2760]

@@willhorting5317 A big turning point was when Brock Lesnar said "suplex city, bitch" at WrestleMania 31. He was the only one still wrestling on the biggest stages, and after that he stopped. Not counting what the midget fans consider to be "wrestling", no, "technical wrestling", meaning kicks.

[@j.c.ca.o.l7035]

I still remember seeing Beyond the Mat, and I really felt he was going to be gone within ten years tops.

[@MrManfly]

Jake’s feud with Big Daddy Ritter (JYD ) with Stampede Wrestling in the late 70’s was classic! And in no way by then was Jake ever “the sh*ts” like Jim claimed he was a few years previous! I know cuz I was in the stands watching them go at it live and in person!! 😉

[@newblack766]

Jake lived a life some committed suicide over. I commend him for becoming the gem he is at this age

[@ScottsCollection]

This one felt more like Dark Side of the Ring rather than Biography... One thing that was weird is they had Jake doing the normal interviews, but also doing these black and white wrestling style promos.

[@michelleb8221]

Like Brian said, it was too performy at times. It didn't feel like a biography.

[@DragONheart27X]

@@michelleb8221 It was great to be honest, the latter part of the interview where he admitted to falling down and his "resurrection" the black and white stopped. He only did it again towards the end where he cut the promo saying "my past will not look like my future. at all" it was great.

[@michelleb8221]

@@DragONheart27X No doubt it was good.

[@jvharbin8337]

Jake passed the anti-hero torch to Steve Austin. How can y'all not see that?!

[@Rjensen2]

Because it isn't true at all. Anybody who actually watched would know that.

[@jvharbin8337]

@@Rjensen2 except for me who actually watched and lived through the 90's wrestling Era.....

[@Rjensen2]

@@jvharbin8337 No you didn't. You OBVIOUSLY didn't. You only watch shows that deal with WWE history with their own warped view of it. People who actually did watch it know what a stupid comment that was.

[@vycanismajoris6871]

Oh man his Portland promo.. just close your eyes and listen. Its 100 percent Stone Cold talking, until you open your eyes and see Jake.

[@cipherpac]

The man got a lawn-infestation gimmick over and rode it to legend status. Wretched as he may have been as a person all his life, that is a mind-bogglingly great accomplishment.

[@TheMadvillainy]

holy shit that backstory is genius lol

[@UziBlancoOfficial]

Not many more guys, (especially from newer generations)made up there own finish let alone named it an it stick nomatter who does decades later..

[@KHayes666]

Jake told the story on his WWE DVD that his father called him up in early 92 and told him that Kip Frye was giving out million dollar contracts like they were coupons. Jake called up Frye and agreed to a 2.5 million dollar deal. Jake then "held Vince up" by saying "give me my release or I'm not going to the ring against The Undertaker." So Vince gave him a release but with a 90 day no compete clause attached. By the time the 90 days were up, Kip Frye quit and Bill Watts was in charge. Jake went to sign his contract and Watts ripped it up and said "200 grand or get the hell out of my office." Jake took the 200 grand and 4 months later quit because his wife wanted him to come home.

[@TheMadvillainy]

It's hard for me to think Jim isn't just blocking the Grizzly situation out of his mind. Since Jim liked Grizzly, it seems like he shoved it to the side or just didn't acknowledge any signs if they came up. Jim is willing to go to bat for people he reveres even if they obviously did something wrong (see: Ric Flair, Vince McMahon). I'm not saying Jim watched it happen or is keeping it a secret, but more something he might not want to acknowledge even if he did see the signs.

[@erby1kabogey9]

He bailed Corny out of jail so its completely understandable.

[@joefalcone9349]

I love Jim but I agree. This is his biggest flaw. He will go all in on Hogan but always shies away from things like Grizzly or Ric Flair.

[@josephdelledonne2098]

He doesn't want his friends mad at him.

[@anonymousbo0318]

​@@joefalcone9349 So he's a hypocrite

[@toddthomas6593]

@@anonymousbo0318 Bingo

[@baconbone5895]

If you go back and watch the Jake/Taker match. Not only does he not come out with the snake but he also does a "Jobber Jog" right before entering the ring. A master of Psychology

[@Rjensen2]

Master of psychology? That has nothing to do with it. It was very common in those days. Ax of Demolition did much the same thing.

[@eljermo]

According to legend, Jake was extremely f'd up for that match. Randomly called the Tombstone outside the ring

[@Rjensen2]

@@eljermo He didn't randomly do it, he did it to get Undertaker fired. He had to have known McMahon would have been pissed.

[@naseefzarif1576]

Jake Roberts always inspires me. The man suffered through so much from a young age and managed to overcome his demons. Every time I feel hopeless, remembering Jake reminds me that it's possible to get through worse.

[@Willowdog08]

Overcome his demons? In which reality?

[@12ozmouse99]

@@Willowdog08 the one that Jake gives you on his gofundme page for new teeth or whatever. Also the one Jake gives you when you book him for a speaking engagement that he no shows.

[@ijdgaf323]

It’s time to cancel Grizzly Smith once and for all.

[@ameliastencil6058]

🙄

[@Rjensen2]

Nobody knows who he is, so it isn't necessary.

[@chriskay1449]

NO real reason to since nobody ever mentions him. WWE sure as hell doesn't.

[@Rjensen2]

@@chriskay1449 Exactly...there are a lot of people here projecting and trying to show how against child molestation, as if it's actually necessary.

[@timewithoutconsequence4611]

Am I wrong. But, is Grizzly protected too much?

[@TheeCoachg]

No you’re not wrong.

[@TriplomatX]

When I think of the DDT being overexposed, I think of Raven & Tommy Dreamer's Loser Leaves ECW Match, & the constant DDTs in that match before finally a bloody Dreamer hits the Final DDT to kick Raven to a higher paid Wrestling Promotion while he's on his way to obscurity before wanting to pull the trigger on Paul Heyman.

[@dwaynemenzies8824]

Jake was an economic worker. He didn't make a lot of moves, but he didn't have to he just needed to do everything to tell a story in the ring and release Damian.

[@thomastownsend2702]

One of the best from a promo and psychological standpoint. His work was pretty good, maybe even excellent by today's standards, but it didn't have to be that great because he was always one of the best at telling the story

[@TheeCoachg]

Jim Ross said on his most recent podcast that ppl absolutely knew about Grizzly. Love Corny but he romanticizes the territory guys so much sometimes that he’s in denial about what POS some of them were. Grizzly probably intimidating AF but a big grown man like that walking around with pregnant 12 and 14yr olds?? C’MON!!! Smh

[@nickhughes8179]

The worst of it was that Grizzly knew all the cops in the towns that were booked for events. Part of his office job was to hire cops as security for shows. Those who knew about Grizzly didn't say much, likely out of fear of his dirty cop friends.

[@RainmakerXBooty]

jim ross would've spent more time around grizzly, cornette and grizzly werent around each other that long, smiths career was winding down and he was just an agent for the several months cornette was there. jim mentioned that people were whispering about the young children that would ride with him but that was the extent of anything he know at that time. when 3 well known territory wrestlers are children of grizzly's and none of them were talking, what does anyone say?

[@user-yx9bs8zo5q]

Ross enabled him then. And cornette won't comment on flairs last match either.

[@JumpingJackFlash1989]

For the record; Gangrel called his DDT the impaler

[@mikejejenich7116]

Jake 🐍. The snake. Was a top 5 promo guy of all time. 🎤. He didn’t have to scream. His words and eyes. Sucked you in. Hes right up there with. Flair dusty. Piper. On the greatest promo guys. 💯

[@JohnTorres1987]

Jake’s upbringing really screwed him up. It is hard for anybody to succeed with that type of father, and with that young of a mother, who had been violated by his father, who was a lover of children. And having a mother-in-law who abused him physically, verbally, and s*xually

[@aainvalba]

The way jim explained no one in mid south not knowing is such fucking bs “we joked about it” “he knew all the girls names “ “he was always around those girl groups” yea you guys totally missed that 😂

[@CraigCairney83]

His WrestleMania VI promo was one of the all-time best.

[@thomastownsend2702]

That may have been his best face promo, but the promo he gave at This Tuesday in Texas is all-time great heel masterpiece! Just watching Okerlund's demeanor and reaction while Jake is talking shows how sometimes you can forget it's a work. Problem is that I don't think it's on KZbin anymore, and because of how controversial it is, it may not be on Peacock either

[@Dan-ct5zl]

@@thomastownsend2702 Is that the one after he slapped Miss Elizabeth ? That was perfect heel Jake.

[@thomastownsend2702]

@@Dan-ct5zl yeah that one. "...when I put my hand across her face it felt so I should have to pay to do that. Yeah, I'd pay for that..." "...please bring her back. Let me touch her again.. " 😲

[@thomastownsend2702]

@@Dan-ct5zl the audio is on KZbin but not the video. "Jake Roberts Tuesday in Texas Promo"

[@hgonz14]

Fun fact: In Tom Brandy's RF shoot he talks about how Jake while working for the WWE office after his 1996 run that he traded his rental car for crack.

[@ren17x50]

A&E...I remember when it came as all British shows and Bill Kurtis

[@timothypiltz3141]

It’s the best one of the entire series. How dare he be honest about his past. The nerve of that guy.

[@dumezweninduweni158]

"You were there, what did you see?"

[@DARC-87]

What a fascinating conversation this morning. Jake's never been my favorite wrestler or person, not that I know the guy. But I'm extremely familiar with his career by osmosis, just by being a wrestling fanatic for 30 years. I specifically remember his religious comeback in '96.

[@SKMCTV]

Of all the wrestlers who are still alive from the 1980s I can’t believe Jake is.

[@christopherstoecker151]

Blows my mind him and the Iron Sheik are still going but grateful they are

[@bretth4988]

Did Jake do roids? Regardless of other factors. I think roids are responsible for a lot of deaths.

[@jumbothompson]

Ya he did, and coke and booze and painkillers all kinds of other pills. No it's not just roids but a combination of everything.

[@Thornus_______]

What "Grizzly Smith" did is unforgivable it just makes my skin crawl

[@EddieTheGentleman]

Loved Jake and that DDT since I was a kid

[@Unknown-bq9id]

With regards to Grizzly Smith, I'm going to say what I said in another post: he makes Fritz Von Erich at his worst look like father of the year, and that ISN'T an exaggeration, IMO!!! With a father like that, anyone would have issues...

[@TMC1982Part2]

Buck Zumhofe also has to go up there on the list of all-time worst pro wrestling fathers.

[@The765Das]

the Grizzly Smith shit is beyond unbelievable. ain’t no way them bastards ain’t knew

[@NoTimeAllTime]

Jim casually saying that DDT the poison was over had me actually laughing out loud.

[@brownmut5518]

I remember seeing Jake vs Slaughter in 82 , Jake vs Steamboat in 86 and Jake vs DiBiase in 90. I'm glad he's now living his best life. Good luck to us all

[@oN3xShOtxkilL]

I’ll say this much, the Jake I met at the “resurrection of Jake the snake” in Atlanta when the premiere happened, Jake has been and was in a better place mentally, physically, and emotionally.. and he’s continued to be a better person staying out of the addictions and not slipping up..

[@PaulJN566]

In Jim Ross's book he said that Grizzly Smith made inappropriate comments about a 9 year old when he first met him.....Yet nobody knew.

[@TheeCoachg]

He said on his most recent podcast that ppl absolutely knew but the term “Pedophile” wasnt even a thing and that kind of behavior didnt hold the weight that it holds today.

[@PaulJN566]

@@TheeCoachg another lame ass excuse. These people knew what he was doing but said nothing because of who he was. Plain and simple.

[@americasevilgenius]

Did anyone else survive the DDT? Not in WWF...but in Mid-South, Lord Humongous kicked out of the DDT in a cage match in Houston (because he had the hockey mask on). However, later in the match, when Jake DDT'd him onto a chair, he didn't kick out then.

[@brianlogan4243]

Wrong Jake let the Undertaker get up from two in one match before getting tombstoned on the Hoosier dome floor. This was an often over looked boost while turning Taker babyface. Wrestlemania VII

[@richardwilliams5387]

Funny that Brian says one unnamed person tells him Jake's "bad" then one minute later it's "several" people.

[@BMoney04]

Man F Brian Last.. cant stand dude..

[@Rjensen2]

Most people in wrestling know what a piece of shit that he is.

[@deniseboldea1624]

Grizzly Smith really messed his kids up, all of them are still trying to work through thier issues with themselves and each other. To think he wanted them not to trust or like each other just to cover his tracks is appalling.

[@louissmith4218]

Always good to hear jimmy’s stories

[@jacobtupua6158]

Somewhere out in the ether, footage of that DDT Jake gave Hulk Hogan is just waiting to be discovered.

[@piscinaiv7937]

How many legit playground DDTs was Jake responsible for... 🤣🤣🤣

[@stuartdunlop8834]

Honestly, his story is just gripping. Especially knowing that he turned out okay enough in the end.

[@mrkipling2201]

His promos were amazing. While most blokes in the WWF in the late 1980's were screaming and shouting into the camera, Jake was the complete opposite. Plus the DDT is one of the best finishing moves ever.

[@LTDANMAN44]

jake roberts was and still is my favorite.

[@1Smooth1]

I haven’t watched it yet, but seeing him in person many times I loving his promos did it for me. He’s awesome. Healthwise he looks like he could pass away at any moment. I feel bad for him. When you see him gingerly walk to the ring. Knowing at one time he was one of the best ever.

[@rickyvenegas9286]

Jake was part of one of the most iconic moments in WWE history. He was the subject and the inspiration for the Austin 3:16 promo “ First thing you need to do is get that piece of trash out of my ring “ lol

[@JamesJohnson-tr1gu]

Austin was shooting lol

[@rickyvenegas9286]

@@JamesJohnson-tr1gu I know that because he got personal when he told him to go buy a bottle of thunderbird

[@pleaseshutup7053]

Lmao I’m sure Jake felt like a piece of trash during that time

[@user-Todd3Fingers]

My best memories of Jake THE SNAKE, (and possibly his BEST work) was back in the early 80's against THE HANDS OF STONE Ron Garvin. They had great bloody matches. Jake's ribs was pulverized by Garvin but Jake could still SNAP THAT SUPER FAST DDT. Awesome stuff! Go back and watch it if nobody has seen it?

[@dabiggchill06]

Jim quoting an "In Living Color" sketch was pretty funny.

[@EyesofOd]

As soon as Brian starts talking about a nonsense grievance that nobody has....oh, must be the steven p new promo.

[@sbgraider4293]

I thought it was very funny for Jim to declare that the pesticide DDT was over

[@jasonnagy2535]

Listening to Brian Last being the sole arbitor of someone being a good person is hilarious

[@anthonylucero6650]

Brian’s a mook😒

[@jamesmcv]

In Mid-South, Humongous kicked out of the DDT. I can't remember the whole angle & sequence, but it ended with Jake finally DDTing him on the concrete to beat him.

[@brianlogan4243]

I am sure we have only seen the tip of messed up shit that was done by wrestlers during the territory days,

[@TheeCoachg]

Exactly.

[@DarkBlueBaker]

Jim I loved your "In Living Color" reference! My blues man 😁

[@stevek2455]

Jake wrestled Humongous, and Humongous survived being DDT on a chair before Undertaker

[@smkfet]

Bruce Pritchard confirmed the thing about Jake wanting to be on the creative team. He was apparently very excited about it and they had him sit in on one meeting where he pitched a perfectly reasonable underhanded finish for a heel, but he was apparently very excited about the idea and his pitch became a joke that lasted a lot longer than Jake being on the creative team. After that he got an offer for WCW that some people think he would not have accepted if he had the option to stay with Vince in a role he could age into. Also, WCW changed bookers between Jake taking the offer and Jake starting and the new booker was someone that hated Jake so he left WWF for a WCW career that was aborted after a couple TV appearances. Dude got fucked coming and going

[@Rjensen2]

Jake Roberts was nothing but an alcoholic, drug addicted scumbag who was always in trouble with the law when he wasn't failing drug tests. You actually think he was considered for more than a few seconds to be the replacement for Pat Patterson?

[@TheeCoachg]

It was Watts but Corny wont say that as it makes Watts look like a POS too. Its basically the same thing Hurd did to Arn Anderson,a bait and switch over a contract price. They offered Jake one thing but when he got there Watts was hired and knew he’d burned with the bridge with WWF so he could pay him whatever.

[@Rjensen2]

@@TheeCoachg WRONG. Watts hired Jake. Kip Frey left months before Jake came to WCW.

[@Rjensen2]

@@TheeCoachg why do you believe Jake Roberts when he has done nothing but lie? Your ridiculous comment is EASILY proven to be false. Jake is EASILY proven to be a liar.

[@Rjensen2]

Oh, and by the way... Prichard wasn't even in the company.

[@davidfrederick6003]

Being raised in apartment maintenance in Philadelphia. I remember (really well) my father spraying pesticide and it he called it DDT. This was LONG before I watched wrestling

[@robertreams1231]

Yes, DDT was a very popular and potent pesticide used for years. Banned in the U.S. in 1972.

[@drjoshuamc]

I love Jim’s sly In Living Color reference

[@nineteeneightynine432]

Raven did the second best DDT when he fell back his feet went high up looked very impactful.

[@chico1680]

Jake was a big influence on Raven

[@nineteeneightynine432]

​@@chico1680 I know he said the snake gave him the ddt in one of his promos he mentioned "The snake" multiple times. I'm a big fan of both they weren't excellent in ring but made up for it with story telling. :)

[@Cruising_On_Lake_Havasoma]

Tommy Dreamer used to sell it like he got killed, made it look even better.

[@Cacti88]

Been waiting for this

[@pleaseshutup7053]

I hope Jim helps produce a mid south documentary I want to learn more about it

[@GamerMGO]

Saw Jake wrestle at an indie show where my brother was on the card. It was during his extremely dark period and the match was the absolute shits. (on the upside, I also saw glacier at the same show)

[@johnnybstuddd4482]

Who did he wrestle? Did he act or look drunk or high?

[@aaronmonette7849]

Thumbs up for Glacier!

[@GamerMGO]

@@johnnybstuddd4482 very drunk. Unsure about high but likely. My brother was in the locker room with him and he was completely fucking out of it. The snake bit him and he was bleeding everywhere. Sad to see. I can't remember exactly who he faced maybe another legend maybe an indie guy, it's been over 10 years. I do remember glacier was on the card as well.

[@philbuttler3427]

Cornette is overly nostalgic to the point I think it clouds his judgement sometimes. Like I think there is something to think about with how the territory systen was ripe for pedophiles to exploit it like they had zero accountability, access to kids/teenagers, and a lot of mobility to go get set up somewhere else so there probably were substantially more than just Grizzly Smith. In a time where it was easiet to get away with anything anyway, yeah no shit there must have been. I don't believe if a guy was making big money and something like that came out they couldn't just bribe the parents to shut them up? People didn't talk about that kinda stuff back then either like I fail to see what was stopping them.

[@jamescourt5201]

Rick Martell spraying arrogance in his eye and Honkey Tonk smashing him in the head with a guitar are great moments I'll never forget.

[@sharpshooter07]

My first introduction into wrestlers who can do anything in the business except be the champion started right here. Jake the Snake Roberts

[@deathmetalmadness4642]

The Honky Tonk man made me do it lol

[@ScottsCollection]

The Biography didn't mention that Jake's biggest health issue was getting blasted with a non gimmicked guitar by Honky.

[@deathmetalmadness4642]

@@ScottsCollection 😄 🤣 😂

[@Cruising_On_Lake_Havasoma]

@@deathmetalmadness4642 Trash.

[@Rjensen2]

@@ScottsCollection That's because it isn't true. Jake was a well-known drunk and drug addict before that.

[@damonclarke3741]

Has anyone ever been a better talker than Jake? I can't think of many.

[@whoopty54]

Austin flair rock

[@damonclarke3741]

@@whoopty54 Maybe for drawing money, but I'd say Jake was every bit as good.

[@icemike874]

Just watched a match with him and Lord Humungus from 85. Seemed he was over back then

[@RyanS881]

As a pro wrestler incredible verbal ability and smooth (When sober), as a person a despicable human being

[@travismiller4320]

I like to story Jake gave on his DVD back in the 00’s. Grizzly offered him big money to come to WCW, so he held up Vince at Wrestlemania 8 for his release or he would not show up, because he was lied to about replacing Pat as booker while Pat took his hiatus, so Vince gave it to him with the no complete clause for 90ish days, so he can’t sign contract. But Grizzly gets replaced by Watts before he can sign it and after Bill sees how much money it is for, laughs and tears it up and offered him a lot less, but who knows with Jakes stories now

[@hughjass5756]

That bio really hit me. It was dark but I felt so bad for the guy.

[@paulstockton7121]

Back then the only feasible way to kick out, after a DDT, was to be superhuman like Taker, Hogan and Warrior.

[@richiehunt5097]

I don't believe that was the same daughter in Beyond the Mat. As Jake said, he has 8 kids and 4 of them don't talk to him. I believe the daughter in Beyond the Mat was living in Nebraska and Jake was doing a show there and that's how they got him to meet up with her. I think Corny tends to underrate Jake's in-ring work. I've watched plenty of him in Mid-Atlantic and his matches were very technical and told a great story. Albeit he was working with top notch guys like Sgt. Slaughter. But the same with his work in Japan. What I really liked about Jake as a worker is that he was really great at getting the babyface (whether he was the babyface or the heel) into real peril in the feud. Whether it was Steamboat and the shock of the DDT on the floor, Savage with the snake, Undertaker's hand being closed shut on the coffin, Jake getting smashed by HTM's guitar, Jake getting his eye damaged by Rick Martel.

[@eddiemackalicious]

...to the crack house... on the way to MADISON SQUARE GARDEN! 😂😂😂

[@johnwindsor2511]

I feel like Tommy Dreamer kicked out of it when Jake appeared in ECW for a hot second. To be fair, Jerry Lawler pinned Tommy after getting the DDT.

[@anthonycummins9558]

Vince McMahon said that he did not know which "Jake Roberts" he was talking to to- in the "Beyond the mat " Movie.

[@JamesOwens-fj1nv]

Jake had a killer knee lift in 1981-82 mid Atlantic wrestling jake and Barry windham were great tag team

[@kylefisher6521]

Top 5 all time with Promos top3 all time with finishing maneuver. Had it not been for Roberts there wouldn’t be Austin 3:16.

[@brokencompass7332]

Love the shout out to the great Calhoun Tubbs!!!!

[@damonclarke3741]

Can you imagine a live Cobra tucking into Johnny Gargano on wwe TV? Me either. SMH.