Q&A with Jake “The Snake” Roberts
Here is the transcribed version of the brief interview I conducted with former WWE star Jake “The Snake” Roberts last week at the Eastern Wrestling Alliance show in Parkville.
There are so many wrestling autobiographies out there now, but I would think your story would be as interesting as any of them. Are you working on a book?
I just couldn’t come up with a book deal, because these book people are [odd]. Instead of having people who don’t know me take what I say and write it the way they want to, I think what I’m going to do is put it on video and sell it on the Internet in installments. The people that buy the installments and survive the first 10 or 12 chapters, they may get a couple chapters free. I got a lot to tell. It’s going to be very unusual, because it’s going to be about me. [Publishing companies] always say, “We may have to enhance this and enhance that.” What do they mean by enhance? They’re changing the facts. I’m not about bull. It’ll be the truth.
How many independent shows are you doing these days?
One or two a week. Going out in front of people always feels good. It’s sad that in reality, you cannot go out there and do the same things you could do 25 years ago – and neither do I wish to. … I’ll never retire. It’s my passion. I hope to die in that ring.
I know that you were involved on the creative side of the business at one time in WWE. Is that something you would like to do again either in WWE or TNA?
I would love to. I just don’t know if that’s possible. I have a tremendous amount to give yet. How I’m going to give it, I don’t know. Because I’m not sure at this stage of my sobriety if I would be strong enough to accept the changes and the enhancements that they would put on what I write. I have a real hard time not calling a spade a spade. If I think you’re changing something I’ve done into [garbage], I take it personally. Why? Because it’s my baby. Power in the hand of an idiot is not a good thing, and there are a lot of idiots out there writing television.
This is kind of a philosophical question. Many of your peers have died within the past decade. As self-destructive as your lifestyle has been, why do you think you’re still here?
I think that a lot of guys died because they gave up on life. They gave up because their dream had been taken away – their notoriety, their ability to provide for their families, their love. I’m not a quitter. I used to get horribly angry at God. I was like, “What’s wrong, I’m not good enough for you to take?” I mean there’s Curt [Hennig], Bossman, Hawk. The list goes on and on. They’re all men I love. It’s not fair when you feel like you’ve been left behind. It ripped my guts out when Sherri Martel went. Sherri and I were lovers – 33 years ago. I remember being at her funeral and I said something that upset some people. I said, ‘Sherri, I thought we were good friends, but you weren’t. Good friends don’t leave friends behind.” I’m still here because God wants me to be here. I’m still here because Vince McMahon helped me to still be here.
When you wrestled Steve Austin at the King of the Ring pay-per-view in 1996 and he cut the famous “Austin 3:16 promo” after the match, did you have any idea that he was going to become as big as he did?
Truth be known, Vince McMahon said that Steve Austin would never be anything more than second or third match. I said, “No, that’s your next megastar.” He said, “No way.” I said, “Watch.” God, I hate being right. You know, they had Austin 3:16, but they missed the boat. What happened to Austin’s 10 commandments? Thou shalt not kill unless thou are [ticked off]. Thou shalt honor thy mother and father unless they’re [jerks]. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife unless she’s really hot. Thou shalt not steal unless you want it. I enjoyed helping guys like Steve Austin get there. Helping Ted DiBiase get there. Helping The Road Warriors get there. Helping Undertaker get there. Helping Rick Martel get there. Helping Shawn Michaels get there – OK, I was wrong on one.
Uh-oh, guess I wore the wrong shirt (I had on a Shawn Michaels shirt).
(Laughs) They have those in men’s sizes? I thought you were wearing it for heat.
To watch video of Roberts talking about how he credits Vince McMahon with saving his life, click here .
Comments
You're lucky your Shawn love hasn't gotten you into trouble. Controversial little bugger Shawn is.
Posted by: Mr. Bronson | June 27, 2008 5:33 PM
Kevin , that Shawn Michaels t-shirt might just as well have been a Sean Cassidy t-shirt .
Posted by: jack in hebron | June 27, 2008 6:06 PM
What is his issue with Shawn Michaels?
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: He didn't elaborate. My guess is that he hasn't been around Michaels in a while. He remembers the Shawn of 1996, when Shawn himself says that he wasn't a good guy. People in the industry seem to have one of two opinions on Shawn: 1. He was a jerk 10 years ago but now he's a much different person; 2. He was and always will be a jerk.
Posted by: Mina | June 28, 2008 3:16 AM
Jake Roberts still has it. I dont think he's lost a step mentally. Good interview. I wish it was longer.
Posted by: Leonard Crist | June 28, 2008 11:34 AM
Kevin , I guess the Shawn Michaels t-shirt is ok ..... as long as you don't start wearing chaps too .
Posted by: jack in hebron | June 28, 2008 2:18 PM
Kev , I know this is a piece on Jake Roberts , but regarding your comments to "Mina" about Michaels , from the outside looking in many of us don't like him not because of his wrestling . There's no question as to his skills . But because of his percieved cockiness , arrogance , and most of all "pretty boy" persona . Now if you'll excuse me I've got to finish washing my car with MY Shawn Michaels t-shirt :)
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: What about Michaels now gives you the impression that he's cocky or arrogant? Again, I think he was a different person at 32 than he is at 42. But that's just my perception.
Posted by: jack in hebron | June 28, 2008 10:11 PM
Kevin , in response to you , re: Michaels - I guess your perception is different than mine , or we're not watching the same thing . Once again I'll take the agree to disagree stance because I know I'm gonna' lose this one to you since he is your boy and this is your blog . You are the "insider ', I am not . You have privey to information that I don't . All I'm saying is that from what I view , he seems like arrogant pretty boy . I don't have the privilege to see out of ring side of him .
Posted by: jack in hebron | June 29, 2008 12:24 AM
As a note, Mina isn't really just a clever moniker for online use. It's a nickname my uncle gave me when I was about three or four and is a play off the second half of my full first name. I happen to prefer to be called Mina as opposed to my much longer, two part first name.
To get this out of the way, I am a Shawn Michaels fan. He is poetry to watch in the ring and his promo skills are phenomenal. But more than that, I appreciate the transformation of the man himself. It is evident from his autobiography and interviews since his 2002 return that Shawn Michaels recognizes his faults in the past and has made a genuine and successful effort to be a different man. Once, the cocky, arrogant character was just Michaels amplified. Now, Shawn is a humble, good-hearted individual who has a second chance to be a better man. And he's running with it for all he's worth.
I won't necessarily argue that he could still be construed as a pretty boy. I think he's incredibly attractive.
But if you haven't read his book or watched the documentary disc of his DVD set, or any of the 2002 and forward interviews, you may not see the contrast between Shawn Michaels in the 80's and 90's and who he is now.
Oh, and an additional note. I have gone back and watched/read Shawn at his worst. I see what he was versus what he has become.
Posted by: Mina | June 30, 2008 4:09 AM
I thought this was a Jake Roberts interview but its turned into a Shawn Michaels lovefest . For the record I called him a "prettyboy " NOT meaning I find him attractive !
Posted by: jack in hebron | June 30, 2008 6:29 PM
You may not find him attractive, Jack, but I do! Pretty boys, as it were, just flat do it for me. :)
Posted by: Mina | June 30, 2008 11:55 PM
Shawn should own up publically to the fact that his role in the Montreal screwjob was WRONG then and still is now. He has never done this which, in my mind, makes his "new Shawn" thing a sham...
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I think in Shawn's mind he feels it wasn't wrong. He did what his boss asked him to because they Bret wouldn't do what was right for business.
Posted by: Libidoanger | July 3, 2008 2:28 PM
I have to go back to the fact that just about the only thing that ought to be "holy" in the wrestling business should be the trust between wrestlers, especially when in the ring. In my mind, Bret was a total pro in the ring with Shawn on this or any other day. Heck, he even left him alone in the locker room afterward, where Shawn swore by God that he knew nothing (is that not technically called blasphemy?).
Bret Harts story regarding what led to the screwjob has never changed (and is respected by the most respected journalists to be as close to the facts as you get): Bret explained to Shawn that he had no problem putting him over and Shawn responded to the effects of "Cool Bret, but I wouldn't do the same for you". This led to Bret taking a stand that Shawn either prove to be a professional and put over Bret, or find someone else to put the belt on (hillariously offering to put over the Brooklyn Brawler in MSG).
Shawn/Vince/HHH have offered a dozen of varying excuses: Bret wouldn't put over Shawn which as explained is not quite true, Bret wouldn't lose the title in Canada (not quite true but all things considered most would understand why this would be even more of a pill to swallow), Bret was gonna show up on Nitro with the belt (he had a month left on his contract to put over anyone), etc.
As long as Shawn participates in spreading these half-truths, either his religious schtick is a facade or he is just very very selective as to when he is a devout Christian.
And yes, for the record I will always respect Shawn for his skills inside the ring, that may be unparalleled by anyone including Bret. But as far as his integrity and professionalism and honesty I will never be able to even compare him to Bret.
Posted by: Libidoanger | July 5, 2008 8:18 PM
I think Jake has a lot more left to give. To bad he aligns himself with greedy people that want to ride on his coat tail. If he would only pull his head out of his rump to see the truth!
Posted by: Rachael | August 1, 2008 10:09 AM