Aurelian Jake Smith Jr. popularly known as Jake “the Snake” Roberts is the son of former wrestler, Grizzly Smith, and is himself an American professional wrestler. Born on May 30, 1955 in Gainesville, Texas he had a bizarre family life along with his half brothers and also wrestlers Sam Houston and Rockin Robin.
Early Wrestling Career Of Jake
He started his wrestling career in 1975 going around the Georgia, Texas and Oklahoma area before he joined the WWF in 1986. He originated the DDT move accidentally in the 1980s. During a match with the Grappler, he was able to pin him in a front facelock, but he accidentally tripped, making his opponent fall on his head and legitimately knocking him out. He immediately incorporated it as his finishing move with some changes; he added a step back before falling giving the move an extra snap. When questioned as to the meaning if DDT, he just replied “The End.”
He got his nickname, “The Snake” from being thin and snake-like movements as he often slides in and out of the ring during matches. By March 1986, he brought a large python called Damien to the ring. After dispatching his opponent with his famous DDT, he would coil the python around his defeated opponents neck sometime making it look like the constrictor is strangling him. The DDT and snake combination added more excitement to his performance and drama to the Jake fanfic.
His persona turned to good when the Honky Tonk Man hit him with a guitar causing real damage to his neck, which resulted in his dependence on pain killer pills. He also got into a feud with Rick Rude who tried to hit on his real life wife Cheryl. They have been divorced even since.
World Wrestling Federation Further Career Of Jake
His popularity continued to soar with hyped up feuds with Rick Rude, Andre the Giant, Ted DiBiase, Earthquake and Randy Savage. By 1992, Jake took on the Undertaker his former ally. Incidents between them piled up and gained momentum up to their encounter at Wrestle Mania VIII where Jake was defeated. He left WWF soon after due to a commitment not fulfilled and transferred to WCW.
He did not stay long with WCW and left wrestling entirely to face his personal problems of drug addiction and alcohol abuse. In 1996 he returned to the WWF sober but very much out of shape. But he would not stay long and has been fighting his drug addiction ever since he left. When he resumed his WWF career in 1996, he was sober but was obviously having difficulties getting totally free of the personal issues against addiction. He left shortly after and has been fighting his drug addictions since.
For more information on Jake, check out Jake Galleries in the web. For the official Jake Bio, check out his official website where Jake photos and other Jake theme items are available. Interviews and other Jake Videos can also be viewed in the site.