Jim Cornette Reviews Dark Side Of The Ring's Grizzly Smith Episode

From Episode 384 of the Jim Cornette Experience
Artwork by Travis Heckel!
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[@parsath_2584]

Robin is a fucking warrior for how she's turned out.

[@BigE8718]

Amen

[@omarporter851]

I didn't say anything about his daughter. I'm talking about the wrestlers.

[@parsath_2584]

@@omarporter851 what? For one thing Robin was a wrestler and second again what?

[@kristenjones4306]

Robin rocks

[@MidTennPews]

@@omarporter851 you must have commented on the wrong feed because nobody said that you said anything about his daughter.

[@andrewbowyer5043]

The smile on Jake's face when he said he's 10 years sober made you wanna root for him

[@Hi-kq1vi]

He didn't move in with DDP until late 2012, so we know that is bs.

[@dolandarkxgrandayy6953]

@@Hi-kq1vi I think he rounded up, 9 years is pretty much a decade.

[@Peppers19781978]

@@Hi-kq1vi It has pretty much been 10 years but even so it's not bs. The guy has totally changed his life. 10 years, 8 years, 5 years....he is a different man now. It's remarkable he is alive. I met him a week before his HOF induction and he was so happy, so excited meeting his fans that day. You could tell he had a whole new lease on life. He is of course in AEW now and people can trust him when at one point he was unreliable, a mess, an embarrassment at events he was at.

[@madamefeast4824]

@@Hi-kq1vi Yeah I caught that but he's close enough. He's proud of himself, I'll give him slack for a couple of years when saying he's clean for 10 years. Not that anyone cares but I have been clean from opiates since 4/2014. That's 7 years with not one fuck up. If I round up to 8 or 9 years. Whatever. Now, I don't round up but not everyone is the same. Good for Jake

[@Hi-kq1vi]

@@madamefeast4824 It is good he is in a better place, but yes I am highly dubious-he worked the holier than thou WWF gimmick claiming he was clean while doing every drug known to man for a year or so. He from memory fell off the wagon several times-DDP released a video of him admitting to it well into 2013, so even if you buy him being totally clean it is probably more like 6-7 years. Lying about that to such a degree when the possible reality would be hugely impressive if true & seeing clips of him rolling around like a high drunk in AEW obviously makes you question him.

[@arnavbhagwat4232]

When Jake said at the end, "I survived, I made it" as he was smiling and walking around AEW backstage, I started crying.

[@bobbybr38k3r8]

Very emotional . Bless him.

[@kenrickeason]

Grizzly Smith DSOTR and Owen Hart DSOTR are the only ones that made me cry 😢

[@arnavbhagwat4232]

@@kenrickeason The Chris Benoit DSOTR when Jericho said, "the only thing Benoit loved the most in the world, he will never be acknowledged for it, he will forever be erased". That made me emotional as well

[@rocketdive2001]

I cried as well. When he smiled into the camera at the end as his voice said those words, i could see a glimpse of the young boy he thought bury resurface for one more happy moment.

[@ammagnolia]

Me too. He really didn't think he would. None of us and always hoped he would I'm glad the fans helped him with med bills in the past that's so awesome. They really need a foundation for these guys retirement and start them at 50

[@damian_cross]

Jake went through so much he literally wasn't phased by getting cancer. He's like "Don't worry I'll beat it" and he did.

[@WorldsOkayestSorcerer]

Went back and watched this again, without kids interrupting me. During the end where Jake is saying, “If you’re a kid going through this, run. Run like the wind and tell the cops, your pastor (etc),” I was trying really hard not to cry. That was some seriously emotional stuff from he and his siblings. That “It’d be nice to have a sister,” thought was heartbreaking.

[@michaelhamponjr5768]

Me and my mother watched it and we where both talking about how sad all that was....wow

[@KM-ql4eb]

I cried the entire episode - just watched it, still crying. Horrifying. All of them deserve peace.

[@davidgriffithsbjjcoach7207]

The sad thing is that in years gone by the authorities took a more standoffish approach. Now it would be investigate thoroughly. Also not sure your pastor is a slam dunk given all the allegations regarding the clergy...

[@shyjames83]

@@davidgriffithsbjjcoach7207 yes, Pastor is not the way to go

[@Kalentros]

@@davidgriffithsbjjcoach7207 "Pastor"is not the same as "Priest". The Pastor at the church I grew up in was a very good man who did the right thing in this kind of situation. He immediately called the police and testified at the trial. He also didn't turn his back on me after I told him that I had become an atheist. The only change was he switched from being a minister to a friend when I needed one.

[@Rudy04]

Robin is a freaking hero for saving that little girl's life

[@Trayxxxx]

I agree

[@garethcullen9604]

I agree, but she should have called the cops while he was asleep, instead of letting him leave.

[@ctcs9162]

@@garethcullen9604 For what? To deliver food? This is 1940's Texas. This was ok then.

[@ctcs9162]

@The Gypsy 60FPS so you are defending child rape telling me I'm 20 years off. Got it.

[@ctcs9162]

@The Gypsy 60FPS I know, it's hard for a wrestling fan.

[@rajakghosh6602]

Jake Roberts took a lot of shit from fans for his substance abuse in and out of ring but when you found out what he has gone through, one has feel to sympathetic to his plight. Glad he conquered his demons and doing well health wise.

[@Shin-Blade]

I hope he overcomes COPD as well...

[@meharinationsportspodcast2582]

I hope that these young wrestling fans can finally let Jake Roberts live his life because he's been through pure hell. Now, they can finally understand why he fell for the drug addiction during his wrestling career.

[@smallville316619]

@@Shin-Blade COPD only gets worse, it's a progressive disease.

[@evergreenrider]

@@Shin-Blade one doesn't overcome COPD unfortunately

[@evergreenrider]

@james noble thats everything. Hes truly an inspiration.

[@XombieLejon66]

This really put things in perspective. Jake was already a damaged man even before getting into the business. Him saying how "Jake" is a tough SOB who fears nothing, but inside Aurelian Smith Jr. is still that scared, abused kid that hasn't been able to grow up since he was 13. I lost it.

[@Kas58223]

This episode was so messed up in my opinion

[@AliHusnain522]

That was the line that got me aswell

[@Kas58223]

@@AliHusnain522 it did make me happy Jake saying he 10 years sober and that the whole family themselves are trying get together for lost time I hope that happens after all that messed up stuff they had to go through growing up

[@leeberry689]

I thought the Von Erichs was tops for the most dysfunctional wrestling family hands down, until I saw this. How Jake, Robin & Sam are still alive after all that is a miracle.

[@jpowers55]

The Von Erichs were self destructive. Jake and his siblings had a shitty father.

[@Mr.Majestic77]

I made the same comment. In a better world both Kevin Von Erich & Jake Roberts would co-owning a wrestling company.

[@TheChapelx]

@Kwame brown and Jim cornette burner account Anoa'i Family has mostly stayed tragedy free

[@someguytheycallmyers5557]

@@TheChapelx Yoko though?

[@TheChapelx]

@@someguytheycallmyers5557 I said mostly. They're had 3 early deaths(Yoko, Umaga and Rosey). For a wrestling family, any family, their odds are still good.

[@Shin-Blade]

This episode had to be the most informative and the most disturbing in the series. It was like those serial killer stories where nobody but close ones knew the real story...

[@TBOTSS]

@Shin-Blade Grizzly Smith - one lucky bastard.

[@danijade8432]

Absolutely the MOST disturbing one.... I thought the Chris Benoit episodes were bad but this was awful in many aspects.

[@Shin-Blade]

@@TBOTSS As far as the law? Yes. Otherwise? He isn't...

[@Shin-Blade]

@@danijade8432 Chris Benoit episode wasn't that bad but I will have to get back to you with what I think is as disturbing as this episode. The Ultimate Warrior episode wasn't that great or discovering as the A&E Biography episode though...

[@Ori0n1975]

I knew how this episode was going to be, because of what I have heard about Grizzly Smith and his family. Most people knew a lot of this stuff, but this episode put it in a more specific light rather than just vague statements.

[@drsmainemusic]

This episode was POWERFUL. Very hard to watch, but hard to turn away from. Diamond Dallas Page is a saint for the help he's given Jake.

[@thepublichousebrandcom]

Great publicity for DDP yoga though. Lets not forget that.

[@Peppers19781978]

@@thepublichousebrandcom DDP has helped many lives. He didn't do it for attention. He has helped many non-wrestlers. I met DDP at a horror convention right when he was starting up DDP Yoga and he was promoting the hell out of it, so excited and you could tell he knew it would change lives. I talked to him for almost 20 minutes. Such an amazingly nice guy. A true inspiration. Fuck Ultimate Warrior....WWE should hand out the DDP Award.

[@nickfrankie261]

Ddp helped the guys that gave him knowledge in Wrestling. He loves Scott and Jake

[@skylerb97]

@@Peppers19781978 he didn't do it for the attention and while it was already a big deal, the product definitely benefited from the help it'd given Jake and Scott

[@rajakghosh6602]

The kind of abuse the children endured during childhood and substance abuse as a result I'm surprised they are still alive and can talk about it.

[@zakrowe1301]

I was particularly impressed with robin. I hope they can all bond and get to know each other her while they’re still here .

[@madamefeast4824]

@Philip Tucker I don't think Grizzly even was in the WWWF let alone the WWF. Jake obviously was

[@madamefeast4824]

@Philip Tucker he was a disgusting human being but I just double checked. Grizzly was in AWA and NWA and Mid-south etc. He wasn't even in WWF W Vince. So.... Weird comment

[@jimp6755]

Victims often become very tough.

[@Unknown-bq9id]

If there is a Hell, Grizzly is burning merrily in it, IMO--as I've said, he makes Fritz Von Erich look like father of the year. Fritz at least did love his sons, even if he made bad decisions in how he raised them...

[@EVGriffinJr]

Yep! Fritz did some questionable things concerning his kids, but he never did anything monstrous like grizzly Smith! Heck, when I was watching the episode, I was thinking “and I thought Jimmy Snuka, Chris Benoit, new Jack and even Fritz was bad! Grizzly Smith is another level of evil!“

[@marvinalexander6796]

Totally agree, Fritz might have been a little rough on the edges, but he wasn't ashamed to kiss and hug his sons

[@alfonsoperezthreezerosix]

Don’t forget about Stu Hart

[@runnersdialzero1244]

@@EVGriffinJr jimmy snooker

[@EVGriffinJr]

@@runnersdialzero1244 LOL! My bad! I didn’t see that the first time! I just fixed it!

[@MilMaska]

"If man has enough power, he can speak softly and everyone will listen" - Jake Roberts

[@30matey]

very true

[@georgemehisjr.4999]

Touché

[@hellosnipe8436]

And if a man slurps up too much nut... He becomes Mil Maska.

[@morequick8842]

The man drinks piss, i doubt he came up with that quote himself.

[@johnnykarate_SweepLeg]

Cool post... did you think of it yourself?

[@Howyanow]

I know Jake is a very “marmite” kind of person either you live him or you hate him but seeing him smile when he said he was 10 years sober made me a recovering addict very happy to see and gives me inspiration

[@thepublichousebrandcom]

Yeah I can't blame any of them for drinking or taking drugs after the youth they had. Good luck with your recovery!

[@jasonchasney7367]

When was the resurrection filmed then, because he was drunk in that and it came out in 2015

[@danielwilson9724]

@@jasonchasney7367 even if he was, crack was his real problem. If hes sober off tht 10 yrs now, kudos to Jake!

[@Bale4Bond]

Except him being 10 years sober has to be straight up bullshit. Five years? Maybe. Certainly not ten.

[@S.E.J]

@@Bale4Bond Just cause that documentary came out in 2015 doesn’t mean it HAPPENED in 2015. As far as alcohol goes, Jake is about 7-8 years sober since that documentary was filmed.

[@jakefoley9539]

My biggest takeaway from this episode is that Robin Smith is an absolute badass.

[@michaelmfwayne]

She was smokin hot back in the day, and was a great worker. Shame her career wasn't longer. Despite everything, she turned out to be a good person.

[@shindean]

This was the most gruesome episode. There was a level of vileness that was incomprehensible. I remember watching that scene from Beyond the mat with Jake and Grizzly, and it was just so uncomfortable to watch but I didn't know exactly why. And now I know why, he was standing next to the devil, and couldn't say a word.

[@jakedull2553]

I mean then you wonder why Jake did drugs and drank.

[@glennjoyce7682]

@@jakedull2553 you come out of the episode with nothing but empathy for Grizzly's poor kids...he fucking destroyed all of them and the fact they survived him is a miracle in of itself

[@jakedull2553]

@@glennjoyce7682 facts 💯

[@InsignificantNick]

A hard episode. The story of Grizzly bringing an 8 or 9 year old to Robin's house like it was nothing. So much to digest.

[@ryankeefe6222]

If there’s a hell I hope grizzly smith is rotting there

[@Howyanow]

That part was absolutely shocking

[@ellemarr7234]

That part instantly reminded me of the Netflix doc Abducted in Plain Sight. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you know what you’re getting into but its core story has a lot of similarities.

[@el-youtub3r402]

what bothered me about that part, is that they never went in deeper into that. Yeah he came home with her and Robin took her away from him...then what? Who was the little girl? Did she eventually ended up with Grizzly again? Did her parents come and picked her up?...They left it up in the air i feel

[@thekidfromiowa]

@@el-youtub3r402 What unscrupulous parents let that girl hang out with a stranger old enough to be her grandpa.

[@patrickboian8545]

Grizzly was a pos. How can you do that to your children? Feel so bad for Jake and Robin.

[@jonoldfield5713]

Grizzly Smith was a monster and how his children survived upto now because of him is miraculous

[@sugartbube]

That story was something else. You're suppose to feel safe with your parents. What a nighmare

[@TihetrisWeathersby]

Crazy how much Jake has been through, Much respect to DDP for helping him out

[@thesupremepizzaking]

DDP is a saint

[@TihetrisWeathersby]

@@thesupremepizzaking He is, Until a handshake turns into a Diamond Cutter

[@midniteryder_3-16]

@@TihetrisWeathersby & with that, u never c it coming!

[@XombieLejon66]

Back then, Jake and Scott Hall had to be at the top of alot of people's lists of wrestlers who wouldn't be alive in the next 5 years. DDP is the patron Saint of troubled wrestlers

[@kenrickeason]

DDP doesn't get enough credit.. Kinda disappointed how The Undertaker treated him back in the day now..

[@85futureshock]

I knew Grizzly was evil but I wasn’t prepared for the story by Robin about him showing up at her door.

[@Blueswailer]

Right? "She wants to try Daiquiris." WTF

[@Gunn27]

Yeah and she never even called the police so he more than likely just found another child to abuse and lived the rest of his life a free man. Disgusting.

[@el_ra]

Best part of the episode was the ending where jake and robin told victims to speak out and run! Tell an adult and not endure the abuse.

[@hollywood21639]

Growing up in a small town, I'm sure the locals knew about what he was doing. The fact he got Sam out of trouble so much tells me he probably took part in things with local officials too.

[@kenrickeason]

Exactly!! I grew up in a small town in Alabama and things like that do happen.. I guarantee everybody knew.. They was just either afraid to say something cause of retaliation from the ones who was doing it or They were doing the same things themselves..

[@tonyperkis4154]

@@kenrickeason it’s like when priests get away with diddling kids for years and years. People know. Just so happens that the pedo has been trusted with half the communities deepest darkest secrets during “confession”...while the other half look at the person in such a light, that they wouldn’t believe you if you told them.

[@kenrickeason]

@@tonyperkis4154 You right.. It sad man and disgusting..

[@murderinc.hunting7686]

I bet law enforcement or judges were doing it too and Grizzly knew. They couldn't risk punishing Sam and pissing Grizzly off.

[@CEOGaming82]

Nasty good ole boy crew

[@nujeru99]

I remember watching Jake's DVD "Pick Your Poison", where he spoke about the Monster his father was. Robin is a HEROINE for saving that young girl's life. Unfortunately, Grizzly was a MASTER at manipulation--he knew his reputation with the boys (combined with his celebrity as a wrestler and the fact that sexual assault was rarely talked about in public at that time) shielded him. He's a true POS

[@DespicablepunK25]

Until I saw this episode I always thought Jake Roberts was his real name.

[@danielwilson9724]

Me too

[@kevinpayton2664]

I believe that a lot of wrestling fans thought that Jake Roberts was his real name. I did for years up until last year.

[@fullparranrlgames3758]

Check out the ddp intervention on jake the snake roberts documentary....its fantastic

[@jakelang806]

You never looked him up?

[@robertparker6280]

Same, but now makes sense why he wanted to change his name.

[@ChrisC11291980]

Jake said himself on his WWE doc he had a hard time being in the business and listening to every talent saying how great his father was because Jake knew what they did not know. His old man was a master manipulator

[@glennjoyce7682]

He was a monster..a true sociopath and the fact that Jake survived him with his life is a miracle

[@ChrisC11291980]

@@glennjoyce7682 And I know some people dislike Jake for not always being a model parent himself but in hindsight, look at the role models he had growing up, no wonder he's so screwed up!

[@A_Notes]

I hope grizzly gets his on his judgement

[@JackgarPrime]

@@ChrisC11291980 Yeah compared to Grizzly, Jake looks like Father of the Year.

[@ChrisC11291980]

@@JackgarPrime indeed he does.

[@ethanbradley2089]

Next season Vice needs to give them longer episodes. It's one of the few things worth watching on that channel. The advantage A&E's show has is they're longer. And on a side note: Arn Anderson better watch it now with that blind praise of Grizzly Smith and calling him a poor soul.

[@gst013]

I've only seen one of the A&E bios and it was the one on the Macho Man...that was enough for me. Borderline terrible. All of these random interview clips with a lot of people who had nothing to do with Randy telling secondhand stories about him and a weird overall biography that barely touched on huge stretches of his career. Felt like amateur hour aimed at people who had never watched wrestling all the way through.

[@danielwilson9724]

@@gst013 macho man is the worst one, the others are good. Especially Foley and Austin

[@gregblau8082]

@@danielwilson9724 those are the 3 I’ve seen and the other 2 were definitely better… plus andre but that was done years ago, not as part of a series

[@MatsThyWit]

This was undoubtedly incredibly difficult for anybody who was ever involved with Grizzly Smith. I can't imagine just the feelings of guilt by association that would rock me to my core if I'd had any kind of close friendship with a man like him.

[@el-youtub3r402]

I wished though they would have gone in greater detail about the abuse that Jake and Robin went through. You understand why they didn't obviously, but i felt they just scratched the surface....

[@WhatwouldRoddyPiperdo]

@@el-youtub3r402 To be honest I think that was enough, to imply his children had been abused then go on about all his other escapades paints the picture without needing to be told

[@WhatwouldRoddyPiperdo]

I think that's why Jim Ross specifically made it a point in his first book to talk about what a horrible POS Grizzly was he could have easily skated over it but he didn't he told the stories made them public as a great f you same with Bob Sweetan.

[@el-youtub3r402]

@@WhatwouldRoddyPiperdo Yea i can see your point. Robin would have probably not been willing to come on the show if she was forced to share every detail about the abuse she suffered

[@ericdunn1297]

@@el-youtub3r402 p

[@williamnelson4005]

I had no idea that Cowboy Sam Houston was Jake’s brother. That family had to endure a torturous life because their dad was an absolute Piece of Shit! I always loved Jake the Snake Roberts and am glad he’s still here with us today.

[@ant6132]

@Henry Lee I've never heard anyone accuse jake of diddling kids so 🤷

[@ThatDoesntWorkForMeBrother]

The Dynamite Kid DSOTR episode will not be for the faint of heart either.

[@GrimCleanerDetailing]

Been saying that since it was announced. Grizzly smith n dynamite are gonna be the shockers for a lotta people. Just way too many nasty stories.

[@el-youtub3r402]

@@GrimCleanerDetailing Tbh i felt Grizzly's episode wasn't that hard of a pill to swallow.... They told the stories of what everyone had rumored about him but they didn't went into great detail. You understand why of course. I felt the Benoit episode or Owen's was way more powerful

[@ethanbradley2089]

That's the one I'm looking forward to the most though along with the FMW one. Dynamite Kid was before my time and my favorites have been the ones I'm not too familiar with. The Beniot one is probably the best. But I remembered that so vividly it just brought back terrible memories.

[@thepublichousebrandcom]

@@el-youtub3r402 i think the fact they hinted at things (like the kidnapping/ murder) made it even more sinister.

[@el-youtub3r402]

@@thepublichousebrandcom Yea it got dark when they came into that topic but to me it was definetly not the most dark DsotR episode i've seen

[@markwrenn5965]

My mom was Grizzly's last barber. I just told her about all of this last night. She had no idea. Shits crazy

[@kageakuma3009]

I mean, you never exactly know what other people are like behind closed doors. You may hear rumors, and background talk, but a lot of time it may seem like jealousy of an authority figure.

[@Gunn27]

You mean a dangerous disgusting paedophile never told his hairdresser about all of his crimes? Astonishing.

[@georgesalgado8783]

Good episode. Shame Jake, Sam and Robyn had to relive this.

[@el-youtub3r402]

i think Sam had it the easiest out of them three, thats how it came across through the episode at least....

[@georgesalgado8783]

@@el-youtub3r402 imagine if Sam, who tried to hang himself in prison, had it the easiest....what does that say about Jake and Robyn? Truly a very tragic life for them. 😖

[@gothchicksbongrips5712]

@@georgesalgado8783 but they're all still standing

[@georgesalgado8783]

@@gothchicksbongrips5712 that's right. They made it.

[@Peppers19781978]

@@el-youtub3r402 He did because they said Jake and Robin kept things from him because he looked up to his dad though Sam almost drank himself to death, is lucky he didn't kill others and almost hung himself. Their other brother had it the easiest because he got away from the family as a kid.

[@JagerLange]

In something like the words of Frank Reynolds: "Turns out Grizzly Smith was a goddamn diddler!!"

[@jakelang806]

Lets not use the Lords name in vain

[@Azgoon69]

That was my favorite episode of Dark Side of the Ring because for once it was about something that I absolutely knew nothing about, either the story of Grizzly Smith or the fact that those wrestling personalities were related and also understanding the addiction problems that they had

[@jasonkraatz9574]

After this episode I have so much more respect and love for Jake, Sam and Robin. For them to experience what they did and be able to do this show speaks volumes. Also a special shout-out to the son he adopted out. I can’t imagine what he felt and for him to turn out good is a blessing.

[@randolphdefreese7874]

hearing Corny contradict Jake is one thing,but hearing Brian do it all the time grinds my gears.he is nothing but a fan.

[@joshuaDstarks]

Several legs up on a “fan” considering his historical knowledge, collection, and understanding of the business. You just don’t like the guy, which is fine

[@CM-tv2bu]

You probably shouldn't ever critique food because you're not a chef, idiots

[@nickhughes8179]

Cornette has known Brian since Brian was a 13 year old tape trader attending SMW shows. He met Cornette at an SMW show, and they kept in correspondence through tape trading. Brian also has a well connected family.

[@RicGagger]

I'm not gonna lie, this might be the best one yet. It was really dark. I knew about some if this, but never knew about the sister that disappeared. I don't know why people let grizzly get away with that for years. He lived a full life as a free man and should have been taken out long ago. He ruined all his children and countless other girls along the way. Young girls. This was a tear jerker

[@enigmarip]

That was one of the hardest shows to watch. I've said this to my friends many times. The fact that Jake is still alive is a miracle! Every time I hear about a wrestler dying too soon, my first thought is how is Jake still here? I am so glad he has gotten clean and sober and I pray for him to share his story and how he overcame such horrible circumstances.

[@vinceraven1501]

Met Grizzly during his 90s tenure with WCW & he seemed no more different than any other person. Only thing was the way he gave off a aura of quietness at times & yes on occasion, there'd be the sweetest, maybe right at her early teens, girl with him & sometimes another, but, didn't think of it then as I was around the same age. Backstage people listened intently when he was directing traffic though. Whatever happened all those years, maybe they'll stay there now.. Best episode yet.

[@realkeanureviews]

So sad for Jake and his family having to live with that monster. It shows how different the Era was. People trusted people so easily especially people in power and fame. Also What happened in the home stayed in the home. It was the era sadly it's why so much abuse and sexual abuse happened and got away with it.

[@DemonKingFinnBalor1916]

I'm not a very emotional person but that whole episode of Dark Side Of The Ring with Jake almost had me in tears listening to what they all went through.

[@gothchicksbongrips5712]

I have a lot of love and respect for this family putting everything out there for everyone to see. And props to the guys who put together the show 🙌

[@oN3xShOtxkilL]

It was one of the hardest episodes I watched because I went through the same abuse as a kid

[@emigrant1510]

I sincerely hope you're doing well these days.

[@oN3xShOtxkilL]

@@emigrant1510 i appreicate it, I never went down the alcohol and drugs like others have but memories never go away sadly, it’s easier to talk about but never easy to move on

[@ManifestMyFuturesDestiny]

@@oN3xShOtxkilL Damn Marcus........the fear and turmoil you must've endured. No child should ever, ever have to go through this. I commend your bravery and strength. I hope someone was there to help.

[@oN3xShOtxkilL]

@@ManifestMyFuturesDestiny it took me many years before I could talk about it with my mother, I’ll never tell my father about it.

[@thequadfather27]

Sorry you went through that ish!!! Hope everything is well! ☺️

[@anachronologist2017]

Best episode they've ever done. As a victim of childhood trauma, they handled this in a very respectable way and I appreciate learning more about Jake and his family than I ever knew. I was one of those that only knew what I'd seen from Beyond the Mat and similar, but Jake is a goddamn hero in my opinion, and I sincerely hope that this episode helps bring all those estranged siblings a bit closer, they certainly deserve that. I hope I get to meet Jake one day, he's an inspiration and I'm so proud to see how someone like that can turn out the way he has.

[@takerdust]

The documentary skipped that Jake's young dead sister was married to a guy decades older than her, and the wife is a jealous nut. At first I thought it didn't make sense why Grizzly would be involved in her murder, but it's interesting that it occurred right around time the sister was talking to Robin about possible abuse. If Grizzly wasn't involved, he at least would be relieved that she was out of the picture.

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

Good point

[@hughjass7101]

that WAS in the episode tho...

[@takerdust]

@@hughjass7101 mentioned the husband very briefly, but not about the vast age difference. An abused teen marrying a man old enough to be her grandfather is telling.

[@hughjass7101]

not sure what that would have to do with the woman murdering her

[@SonOfMuta]

The story of Jake's sister being kidnapped and murder was not in Beyond The Mat. It was in the WWE Jake DVD "Pick Your Poison"

[@frankbrody239]

I thought he did kinda mention it in Beyond the Matt, in a scene where he was drunk and rambling he mentioned his mother being raped and he mentioned a sister being murdered. I thought it was Rockin Robin for a long time, but glad to see sh is still with us. But I swear I saw it on Beyond the Matt, or I'm experiencing that Mendela Effect thing......👽

[@sc30002001]

He mentioned it on beyond the Matt

[@cliffbeavers6158]

Next to the Benoit one, this was probably the roughest watch of Dark Side. Yikes.

[@mikehunt1741]

Could listen to Cornette forever. A treasure to Pro Wrestling.

[@jenniferpruitt6534]

Jim Cornette is a wrestling legend. A walking wrestling encyclopedia, he's got a collection of memorabillia in his home. He's got a true love for wrestling, good, bad and ugly!

[@ustillsuckbryan6027]

Robin is freakin awesome, liked her before, more new found love for her now.

[@chrystalSexydiabetic]

The white version of R. Kelly

[@johnnygrind77]

This one was probably the hardest to watch out of all 3 seasons.

[@kelsohunt460]

It was a tough watch. Jake 10 year's sober. Brilliant.

[@tywilliam3225]

Grizzly Smith is the R Kelly in Professional Wrestling.

[@lifeinsurancecareerfactsan808]

He is a hero

[@kylesantos8190]

R. Kelly never touched his own kids

[@lifeinsurancecareerfactsan808]

@@kylesantos8190 grizzly is a hero you pos

[@rickytpb2164]

@@lifeinsurancecareerfactsan808 Sam Houston is that you?

[@madamefeast4824]

@@lifeinsurancecareerfactsan808 Weird. Ok

[@jedediahcoulbourne1791]

If people knew for sure what he'd been doing I think we'd have heard about Grizzly in a ditch

[@leogetz3570]

I remember when "Beyond the Mat" came out either late 98 or early 99 and Jake Robert's story then was brutal. The way he was conceived, his addictions, work schedule, and the fact his own daugher didn't want anything to do with him. I hope Grizzly Smith is suffering every day in hell

[@DrJReefer]

People took it with a grain of salt at the time. Jake was known for telling a lot of tall tales that he swore was the truth.

[@donaldkennedy9573]

Just imagine if Vice does a Beyond the Ring about Buck Zumhofe. Talk about being a pervert. Buck was the worst.

[@craigperry3779]

I had never heard anything about him until the crime in sports podcast. His story is sickening.

[@nunyabizniss3451]

What happened with Buck Zumhofe? I've never heard of any of that.

[@nickca420]

@@nunyabizniss3451 He's now (thankfully) in prison for the third and final time for child molestation, in this case he got 25 years for molesting his daughter.

[@nunyabizniss3451]

@@nickca420 Jesus christ, that's awful

[@joshuaDstarks]

I’m not sure if it’s up here anymore, but IYH Wrestling interviewed Buck well before his arrest, and it was...uh....pretty weird.

[@adam-thesportsguy6147]

Jake blames Honky Tonk Man for his self destructive life...the real blame rests at the feet of Grizzly Smith.

[@j.rivera6402]

He also blamed the Ultimate Warrior….and then is still bitter as hell that Shawn Michaels and the Hitman became World Champs.

[@tommyfraz.]

@@j.rivera6402, Bret had a loving and respectful relationship with Stu. Stu and Grizzly were both prominent figures in wrestling. Bret and Jake were similarly sized (not in tone or definition), and they both have brown hair. It’s not far fetched that Jake may have projected himself onto Bret, and was envious of Bret and Stu’s relationship. “Why him, I’m just like like”. Out of all the Jake Feuds, the Bret one made the least amount of sense. However, this gives it a little reason.

[@chelsesterling8264]

Jake had a choice and he made the wrong one. Jake not the only person to come from a dysfunctional family. This his fault and no one else.

[@mrmoviemanic1]

@@chelsesterling8264 that’s a disgusting outlook to have.

[@laurakain1524]

@@mrmoviemanic1 However disgusting it is it is true He chose to be a drug addict for decades but I am glad he finally stopped That being said I have nothing against him and these two pricks in the video clearly do

[@constablekennedy7705]

This stuff is crazy and all these DSOTR Episodes are very well put together ... 👀

[@tonyperkis4154]

They really aren’t that well put together. Gino Hernandez episode is a clear example. Go back and watch that episode and tell me what happened with the uncircumcised Latino body...or how Ginos mom thought something sinister happened with a shady friend for the last 30 years, but one of those shady friends calls and says nobody killed Gino...so she was just OK with it now. They never circled back to that dead body that mom and wife knew wasn’t Gino. Snukas was bad, too. They had an obvious agenda, so it’s easy to see how much was left out. Even this episode on Grizzly. Clearly stuff was left out. I like the setting, and the topics because I’m a wrestling fan....but the info leaves a lot to be desired. A lot of the episodes don’t have much new info that’s not pretty public knowledge. There’s absolutely legitimate complaints with every episode and topic....and some of it is due to laziness and bad investigation/interviewing.

[@SLURM187]

@@tonyperkis4154 How much can you cover in 45 minutes?

[@chrissimpson4750]

Ultimate warrior one was terrible. Last 15 years crammed into 5min when it was probably the time that needed most addressing. Most of these are well done, a handful have been terrible though.

[@tonyperkis4154]

@@SLURM187 if you are going to put in red herrings, you have to explain them later. If they aren’t red herrings, it’s just facts, then you have to keep going down that path. If you are going to use the “uncircumcised Hispanic dead body....but Ginos mom and wife say he was circumcised and wasn’t Hispanic “ and then conclude the episode with “nothing sinister happened”...you need to tell the viewer HOW all of this is possible. Yes, they all need to be longer....but even the longer ones are lazy. If you are passionate enough about these topics, you can tie the stories up cleaner in 45 minutes than what they have. You can cut out a lot of useless shit in all of them. Or maybe they are adding useless shit for the drama, and I’m hung up on the useless stuff....then they should not put it in if the can’t end the story cleanly.

[@Ori0n1975]

It's the only thing Vice does that I'll watch. They usually do leftist biased crap.

[@juniusadams9346]

After watching this episode I was completely shook by this. I've watched Jake in the WWF over the years & I never knew he had a father in the wrestling business or knew his father did these horrible things which would explain the downward spiral that he would go on years later. Great episode but disturbing at the same time

[@ThaRealWorld]

I’m from Tatum, TX & I’ve NEVER heard of Jake’s sister missing here. Now I’ve asked around, I’ve heard SO many stories! Crazy what small towns hide

[@kenrickeason]

A lot of stuff a small town will hide.. I'm from a small town out of Alabama and you would be surprised on what will come out if you ask the right people.. Sh_t crazy man..

[@JimmyAdcock]

Im from Kilgore and it shocked me too! Small towns cover up everything bad that happens. You cant even mention the KFC murders that happened in Kilgore in 1984 when I was 13 in a public FB group about growing up there or to any older people in that town without getting scolded or the evil eye. If you do a search for Jo Lynn Rogers Tatum Texas on google, you will see a FB post in a Tatum Texas group from one of the researchers from Vice TV asking for information or photos of the search that took place after she was kidnapped. Posted in Oct of 2020. Not a single “like” or comment on the post. That tells you how much small towns still hide their past even 40 years later

[@ThaRealWorld]

@@JimmyAdcock well howdy neighbor hahah but yeah I knew about the KFC murders cause I went to Henderson High but wow! I had no idea they even made a post! Crazy shit

[@JimmyAdcock]

@@ThaRealWorld would love to hear some of the stuff you found out!

[@brennaaliseesdailylife8829]

Thank you for this jake I went through this as a child it was hard to watch but it was very well done

[@heatherwright3981]

But that girl, whoever she was, was completely BRAINWASHED by that man, bc all she did was praise him, which makes no sense. That is why they call it GROOMING.

[@Filmation77]

The first time I heard about the Grizzly Smith Stories was on the Jake Roberts:Pick your Poison WWF DVD.

[@bryanelam7431]

This is the most important and most powerful dark side of the ring episode! So hard to watch but such a triumph of a ending and I bet it will help multiple people that have gone or are going through this!

[@joshuam190]

I no longer feel like Jake is a bad guy for being a junkie. It’s a miracle none of these kids committed suicide.

[@ethanbradley2089]

Most people with addictions are trying to suppress something. So maybe you should drop that mindset. It's rare someone with a perfect life decides they're going to be inebriated 24/7. Keith Richards but he'd die if he stopped.

[@nickca420]

No one does that much dope and coke and alcohol because they want to. It's a means of escape.

[@dwyurr]

well we're all glad you can display some slight empathy only after hearing the graphic details of being raped as a child by his stepmom. why the fuck would you automatically think someone is "a bad guy" for being an addict, or the stigmatized derogatory word "junkie."

[@totallybored5526]

“Junkies” are not bad people. They’re all like Jake and been through severe trauma at home then they go out into the world and get treat like scum for “being a Junkie” or being a bit “off” because of the abuse and that makes the spiral worse

[@FlixCreEightR]

I remember hearing about some of this during the, Beyond the Mat movie.

[@chrisgabb7492]

Extremely tragic story that needed to be told. Grizzly Smith was a hero to kids like me back in the day. It's just so sad...hats off to his kids for pushing forward.

[@thekidfromiowa]

The prospect of being blacklisted was probably enough to deter anyone from saying or doing anything about it if they knew what was going on.

[@KRSStudios]

This episode made my jaw drop mainly because I didn’t know about Grizzly Smith. When the episode was announced I did my research and even through that I didn’t know much about him until the episode came out.

[@rl318]

People act shocked by this and wonder why other people in the wrestling business did not connect the dots or step in, but guys like Sandusky and that gymnast doctor did the same thing in supposedly more prestigious circles and people were blind to them too.

[@totallybored5526]

It’s not as if they’re doing what they do in front of people. Or even tell people. If you was into some dark stuff would you go around telling people?

[@altruisticscoundrel]

15:05 Well, what do you know? Jim hit the nail on the head...

[@chazzfarmer2547]

Corny didn't mention the 2005 dvd that WWE released Jake the Snake Roberts pick your poison which is one of the best DVDs WWE produced but that DVD covered alot of this so I think a good majority of wrestling fans knew the story but Dark Side just did such a great job on this, probably the best episode yet

[@Rjensen2]

Most people never bought it. Plus, it isn't like Jake Roberts has a reputation for being an honest person.

[@81ghale]

There’s a big ass difference between “Grizzley was a master of psychology” and a bunch of people thinking something weird was going on and but didn’t want to be the one to say something because they wanted to keep their job. GTFOH with that bullshit.

[@williamslater-vf5ym]

Even today people will see something fishy and not necessarily suspect any wrongdoing. And even if you do, you don't say anything. You've done it.

[@chadgratton8453]

I think everyone claiming "it was weird but not suspicious." Are just playong dumb.. they were selfish and protecting the business rather than protecting innocent children..

[@kenthegamer]

Yeah I think people knew he was doing something. The fact that people told jokes of him liking them young tells me that there were people in the business that knew and could have turned a blind eye to it.

[@defaultusername123]

*One of the better Dark Side episodes in general, and thus far the best episode of Season 3.* REALLY REALLY REALLY hope someone can help get those 3 back together before it’s too late for one of them.

[@MrJjburgess11]

Anyone remember Rockin Robin singing America the Beautiful at Wrestlemania 5

[@NesDogg]

How bout these parents that allowed their children to be with Grizzly?

[@HkFinn83]

Seems weird now but they really probably had no idea about what was really going on

[@stevencooper3202]

Grisly would have paid them off

[@eiephants]

They knew. He probably paid them.

[@imusingsocialistmedia3014]

If your parents are allowing this they are just as repsonsible for what happened.

[@maceomaceo11]

How about those parents that sent their kids off with Boy Scout leaders. Or to be altar boys.

[@byrdcliffetvwoodstock6801]

i think cornette did a good job on this. he should get a lot of credit for trying to show, how something like this can happen, and nobody knows for sure. people need to learn from this how to protect children from that. Much Respect Mr. Jim Cornette.

[@MindNumbingInc]

A guy I worked with got locked up a few months ago for some pedophilia shit with his step-daughter. You never know what happens behind closed doors with someone.

[@vicenzor3625]

Mostly people are a lot more skeptical and suspicious to a grown man hanging around children that aren't his than it appears they were 40+ years ago

[@rickd9951]

Been waiting for this

[@wanfu5634]

Like the story of John Wayne Gacy. A public life with so many people knowing him without a clue of what was really happening.

[@thepublichousebrandcom]

We have a similar celebrity in the UK called Jimmy Savile, look him up.

[@jackdaone6469]

@@thepublichousebrandcom Had, anyway.

[@SairajRKamath]

I really hope the Smith siblings reconnect after this episode.

[@SomeGuyFrom216]

I cried at the Benoit episode, the hair on my neck stood up when Owen's wife showed the hook, but man, this episode just hit different. Parts made me sick to my stomach. My skin crawled.

[@bearcathampton5844]

WWE employed Pat Patterson even after the stories about ring boys. So not a surprise that they held on to Grizzly Smith.

[@chriskay1449]

Pat had nothing to do with that. They were completely made up allegations by both Billy Graham and Roddy Piper, both of whom admitted they made it up in order to damage Vince. People need to stop spewing this ignorant nonsense.

[@jakehowell3069]

@@chriskay1449 such b.s your sick

[@msr187]

@@chriskay1449 trolling at its finest

[@chriskay1449]

@@jakehowell3069 It's not BHS. Both are on public record admitting they lied. What is truly sick is you and other continuing to peddle false allegations against a guy who is no longer living. The guys you are talking about are Terry Garvin and Mel Phillips.

[@jakehowell3069]

@@chriskay1449 no mention of Tom Cole tho no??? Of course not why would you mention him??? Why was Mel Phillips re hired and told to stay away from the youngsters by Vince and Linda then???? Your sick mate I thank god my kids will be no where near you.

[@thorvalentinehatesytalgori2632]

On the Vice piece Cornette even said that the boy's would always mention his affinity for little girls. Now on here he says no one knew. Which is it, Jim? And while were on the subject, how many young girls did R&R Express have? You were there, you'd know.

[@thorvalentinehatesytalgori2632]

@Kwame brown and Jim cornette burner account Bury your head in the sand then. Jim is not being truthful because it makes him look like an enabler. Which he, and everyone else in those lockerooms were. Also, the R&R Express would routinely moleste teenage rats back in the day. Jim probably is already ready with excuses holstered for whenever that comes up. ....clown.🤡

[@oodatooitis6714]

@@thorvalentinehatesytalgori2632 Well I’m going to be that “Internet Guy” and say it - if you’ve got proof, report it to the local authorities, otherwise you’re no better than the enablers you’re upset about.

[@mattclassic1855]

Thank you for The Little Rock story!! Loved the shows at TH Barton Coliseum!!

[@GMHSVE]

I honestly cried watching this.

[@kenrickeason]

I didn't expect that.. I'm a grown man who been through a lot of sh_t and This Episode and The Owen Hart Episode made me cry.. Grizzly Smith was just an evil man.. SMH!!! 🥺😢😢

[@fatalsniper3413]

Grow some balls

[@kenrickeason]

@@fatalsniper3413 I was going to say something but I erased it.. All I can say to you is *"Bless you"*

[@fatalsniper3413]

@@kenrickeason I wasn't speaking to you. So take your blessings and shove it. Only speak when spoken to

[@GMHSVE]

@@kenrickeason Look out, we got a badass here.

[@scarecrow1958]

Very informative but many unanswered questions remain. This one, in my opinion, has been the best "dark side" produced. Truly dark indeed.I would have like to have seen a 1-800 number in BOLD PRINT for viewers, as well, at the end of this episode. A helpline for those who may never turn to law enforcement because in some way they blame themselves or just too ashamed to speak to anyone they might know personally.

[@KayFabe87]

Based on Cornette's description of parents allowing their young daughters to "travel" with him, Grizzly Smith sounds like the low income version of Michael Jackson in the sense that parents would willingly let their kids spend time alone with these predators without putting 2 and 2 together, or simply being naive to the fact that these adult men wanted to spend time with young kids for nefarious reasons.

[@wlidbill5261]

Dude mj didnt touch to fuckin kids he was a abused kid and just wanted to have that childl ike innocent again . it was proven he did nothing to the kids that the parent made them to testify he touched them . well the kids after growing up came back out saying out much of a lie it was and their parents made them say what they said an they was so sorry they hurt micheal they loved him but he knew what was up . its a shame they attacked him and smeared him like they did cause he was goin against the music industry for abuse. He was a damn good man read some fuckin shit and stop bein a sheep following the herd look up the damn court case .

[@wildhearts242]

@@wlidbill5261Mj was guilty as sin and none of his accusers ever recanted. I read his legal docs in a criminal justice class; he clearly was a ''nice guy predator''. Grown men don't have sleepover with young boys

[@jmoncada06]

I will say this what I love about this is that Jake got his revenge on his father because Jake actually became the bigger well-known wrestler while his father pretty much went Into Obscurity besides his crimes

[@beeractivist4439]

Good programme. Great review J C

[@oliverrosco-collins1454]

Read slobberknocker Jim Ross's book he talks about it they all knew about it. I like cornette but he's just trying to cover his ass it was public knowledge in the wrestling world that Grizz was a guy who was a lover of very young girls

[@thekidfromiowa]

They knew but couldn't do anything about it because Grizzly would no doubt get them blackballed.

[@Horatio.Mantooth]

If talent is making jokes about PEDOPHILIA. Then that means they at least know something. Sorry but he could have been as covert as possible. What business does a 9 yr old girl have being in a car with older men she is not related too. I don't blame people who worked there and didn't know. Im.bothered by those that joked about it like it's funny.

[@bladestormviking]

anybody who clocked what was going on, was shit-scared of grizzly being able to freeze them out of a job to speak up. my question is- if bill watts is the ultra moral "paragon of virtue" he claims to be, and is as connected as he claims to be, how TF did he not know or have the sense to have it quietly looked into?

[@TheSoundwave92]

@@bladestormviking exactly what I was saying. There is no way that kind of shit didn't slip by Watts. He was way too aware of everything in his own territory, let alone his own promotion, to not have caught wind of what Grizzly had been doing on or off the clock.

[@crappiekingdre6231]

How about putting some blame on the kids parents also. Who in there right mind would let there kids ride alone for hours or stay with someone not in the family at that age? We expect the wrestlers to come forward when the family of those kids said nothing.

[@GetBenched2010]

I look at it the same way as Seth McFarlane making Kevin Spacey jokes years before he was caught kid diddling. Seth knew shit was going on with both Spacey and Harvey Weinstein but had no concrete proof and the victims wouldn't come forward. So his only weapon was to fuck with the pervs and be as big an asshole as possible around them since law enforcement wasn't going to listen to him. This is a common defense mechanism and a way to fire back at someone they have no legal means to take down. It sucks, but I get it.

[@PrincessofPower84]

I spent half the episode with my hand glued to my mouth, seriously.

[@mrtoad8585]

Am I the only one who felt they needed to shower after watching the grizzly smith episode

[@steveaguiar722]

Same here Bro.... Felt sick !

[@troublesomewestsideoutlaw5754]

Along with 🍻🥃🍺🥂🍹🍸🍷🍾🚽🧻😢

[@ammagnolia]

I need a Jim Cornette painting with that quote across it..... ..."because they didn't know he was f***ING eating people at the time!"

[@Dynaman21]

This one was rough. It was well told but it was ROUGH just in the subject matter. Still, Jake and Robin survived and that alone is worth something.

[@stevensingleton6742]

Who's to say that this wasn't some kind of underage ring. He could have payed the parents in these very poor communities. This shit is very normal in FLDS Mormon communities.

[@FlyByNick]

This is the 1st time I've ever heard about this and I was a big fan back in the day of the 6:05 program