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Jake Roberts

Nickname: The Snake

Height: 6' 5"

Weight: 267 lbs

From: Stone Mountain, GA

Birthday: May 30th

Pro Debut: May 13, 1975

Aliases: Jake Smith, Jr., Fred Smith, Fred Platt, The Texan, El Diablo

Feds Worked For: GWF, IWR, MSW, OPW, TxPW, USWA, WCCW, AEW, AWA, ECW, NWA, NWA-TNA, ROH, WCW, WWE, WWF, 304 Wrestling (WV), 3K Wrestling Fighting Athletes (NC), Absolute Intense Wrestling (OH), All American Pro Wrestling (IL), All Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), All tar Championship Wrestling (GA), All Star Wrestling (Canada), All Star Wrestling (England), Allied Powers Wrestling Federation (PA), Allstar Wrestling Network (GA), American Wrestling Federation (Puerto Rico), Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (Mexico), AWA Superstars of Wrestling, AWA World-1 South (GA), AWF (Australia), Bad Boys of Wrestling (TX), Big D Pro Wrestling (TX), Big Time Wrestling, Big Time Wrestling (MA), Big Time Wrestling (MD), Big Time Wrestling (OH), Canadian Wrestling's Elite (Canada), Central PA Wrestling (PA), Central States Wrestling (IA/KS/MO), Championship Wrestling Experience (OH), Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Championship Wrestling from Hollywood (CA), Championship Wrestling USA (OR), Chicago Style Wrestling (IL), Christian Wrestling Alliance, Coastal Championship Wrestling (FL), Combat Sports Federation (England), Covey Promotions (WV), Crossfire Wrestling (Canada), Division One Pro Wrestling (FL), Eastern Championship Wrestling (MD/NY/PA), Extreme Wrestling Federation (IN), Fight the World Wrestling (NY), Firestorm Pro Wrestling (OH), Freakshow Wrestling (NV), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GA), Gulf Athletic Club (TX), Heroes of Wrestling (MS), Innovative Hybrid Wrestling (Canada), International Wrestling Cartel (PA), International Wrestling Enterprise (Japan), International Wrestling Federation (MI), Irish Whip Wrestling (Ireland), Jersey Championship Wrestling (NJ), Juggalo Championship Wrestling, Maple Leaf Wrestling (Canada), Maryland Championship Wrestling (MD), Maximum Xtreme Pro Wrestling (FL), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (NC/SC), Mid Eastern Wrestling Federation (MD), National Wrestling Conference (CA/NV), New Era Wrestling (FL), New Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), Northeast Wrestling (CT/DE/NY/OK), NWA Southwest (TX), NWA United Kingdom Hammerlock (England), NWA Wildside (GA), NWA Wrestle Birmingham (AL), Ohio Championship Wrestling (OH), Peachstate Wrestling Alliance (GA), Phenomenon Legends Wrestling (AR), Powerhouse Wrestling (MA), Pro Wrestling Federation (TN), Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (CA), Pro Wrestling Syndicate (NJ), Pro Wrestling Unplugged (PA), PWU: Wrestle-Reality (PA), Real Stars of Wrestling (England), Revolution British Wrestling (England), Rhode Island Wrestling Alliance (RI), SCW Florida (FL), Smoky Mountain Wrestling (KY), Southern Independent Wrestling Federation (KY), Squared Circle Wrestling (NY), Stampede Wrestling (Canada), Stranglehold Wrestling (Canada), Top Rope Promotions (MA), The Dynasty (NY), The Wrestling Alliance (England), Traditional Championship Wrestling (AR/MS/TN), United Wrestling Alliance (TN), Universal Wrestling Alliance (Canada), USA Xtreme Wrestling (FL/NY), UWS (NY), Vancouver All-Star Wrestling (Canada), Vintage Wrestling (FL), Western Carolina Championship Wrestling (NC), Westside Xtreme Wrestling (England), West Coast Wrestling Connection (OR), Wolverine Pro Wrestling (MI), World Association of Wrestling (England), World Wrestling Alliance (FL), World Wrestling Association (Puerto Rico), Wrestle Zone Wrestling (England/Scotland)

Finisher: DDT

Signature Moves: Knee Lift, Short Arm Clothesline, Gut Buster, Knee Drop, Sleeperhold, Several left jabs followed by a right punch

Career Highlights: -AWF Champion
-AWF Puerto Rican Champion
-AWN Champion
-BBOW Champion
-EWA Champion
-MSW Louisiana Champion
-MSW North American Champion (2x)
-MSW Television Champion
-NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champion
-NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Champion (2x)
-NWA National Television Champion
-NWA United Kingdom Hammerlock Champion
-NWA World Television Champion (2x)
-SMW Champion
-Stampede North American Champion
-UWS Champion
-WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion (w/ Chris Adams & Gino Hernandez)
-WCCW World Television Champion
-WWA Puerto Rican Champion

Affiliates: Ricky Steamboat, Dory Funk, Jr., Gino Hernandez, Chris Adams, Nickola Roberts, The Road Warriors, Paul Ellering, The Spoiler, Cheryl Roberts, Jimmy Garvin, Alice Cooper, Jimmy Hart, Paul Jones, Sherri Martel, Cheryl Roberts, Matt Riviera, Ted DiBiase, Jay Youngblood, Kevin Sullivan, Fallen Angel, Buzz Sawyer, Oliver Humperdink, Mark Lewin/Purple Haze, Billy Graham, Mike Davis, Maha Singh, Luna Vachon, Kharma, Curtis Iaukea, Incubus, Molokai, The Lock, Arn Anderson, King Kong Bundy, Matt Borne, The Iron Sheik, The Sheik, The Spoiler, Art Barr, Black Cat, Chicano Power, Eddie Guerrero, King Lion, Konnan, Madonna's Boyfriend, Misterioso, Lance Archer, J. J. Dillon, The Righteous, La Faccion Ingobernable

Notable Feuds: Ronnie Garvin, Lord Humongous, Oliver Humperdink, Dick Slater, Ricky Steamboat, Randy Savage, Honky Tonk Man, Rick Rude, Ted DiBiase, Bad News Brown, Rick Martel, Ultimate Warrior, Undertaker, Konnan, Sting, Terry Taylor, Jerry Lawler, Steve Austin, André the Giant, The Grappler/Len Denton, Earthquake, Big Daddy Ritter/Junkyard Dog, Scott Irwin, Rufus R. Jones, One Man Gang, Barry Windham, Boris Zhukov, Sika, Skip Young, Brad Armstrong, Bobby Bass, Sgt. Slaughter, Greg Valentine, Ron Bass, Roddy Piper, Harley Race, Hercules, Davey Boy Smith, Ole Anderson

Other Facts: -Son of pro wrestler Grizzly Smith
-Half-Brother of pro wrestlers Sam Houston & Rockin' Robin
-Former husband of wrestling valet Cheryl Roberts, although they reconciled in 2023
-Former brother-in-law of wrestling valet Baby Doll, whom he helped train for pro wrestling
-Uncle of pro wrestler Samantha Starr
-Uncle (by marriage) of pro wrestler Dustin Bozworth
-Sometimes billed from Dallas, TX, Denton, TX or Shreveport, LA
-As a child, his grandmother gave him the nickname “Buster”, which he carried with him for most of his childhood.
-After his parents divorced, he lived with his grandmother, until she passed away when he was 11. Then he moved in with his dad and step-mother and was sexually abused by her, with his father’s knowledge.
-Innovator of the wrestling move The DDT. When asked what DDT stands for he answered "The End".
-Claims to have invented the DDT basically by accident when he was wrestling The Grappler and had him in a side front facelock. When Grappler tried to push him off he stepped on Jake's foot and Jake fell with Grappler's head still in the facelock and planted him on his head. According to an edition of the Jim Cornette Drive-Thru on August 7, 2025, this story was a complete fabrication and Black Gordman was using a move similar to this in the mid-1970s.
-Jake got the name “DDT” from a USA Today article about the pesticide DDT being outlawed in the US for being too dangerous. When asked what it meant, Roberts said "The End".
-Won his 2nd MSW North American Title with help from Ken Hoffman of the Houston Chronicle wrestling. Hoffman said Roberts was heading to the WWF and thus would lose in Houston to Dick Slater in the newspaper. Paul Boesch was so mad, that even though Roberts was leaving, he and Bill Watts had him win the title with a DDT clean in the middle that night.
-Like many WWF wrestlers in the 1980s, he carried an animal to the ring with him. In his instance, it was a snake, given his nickname. Roberts would later admit that in reality he hates snakes.
-Was almost shot by a fan on Nov 5, 1992 in Dallas, TX. During the post-match brawl following a tag team main event pitting Sting and Nikita Koloff against Jake and Super Invader (Hercules Hernandez), an elderly fan (who reportedly had been attending matches at the arena for 30 years without incident) pulled out a gun, apparently aiming for Roberts. Another fan seated nearby reacted quickly and pulled the man's arm down, and the bullet went into the floor. The gunman was subdued by WCW security personnel and several Dallas police officers, who arrived shortly after a 911 call was made from the arena.
-At Survivor Series 1990,captain Jake Roberts, Jimmy Snuka & The Rockers lost to Power & Glory, The Warlord & captain Rick Martel 4 - 0. It was the first "clean sweep" in Survivor Series history.
-1st person to ever eliminate anyone from the Royal Rumble. He eliminated Butch Reed.
-Jake's 1st appearance in ECW was at "Hardcore Heaven '97" on August 9, 1997. During the Tommy Dreamer vs. Jerry Lawler match the lights went out and when they came back on Jake was in the ring then clotheslines Dreamer and DDT'd him. When Lawler offered his hand in friendship he clotheslined and DDT'd Lawler as well then left the ring. On the "Jake The Snake Roberts: Pick Your Poison" DVD, Jake said he flew in, did what he was told to do and got paid and doesn't mind getting paid well for 30 seconds of work.
-Was one of the featured wrestlers in the movie "Beyond The Mat"
-According to Bruce Prichard, Roberts helped Steve Austin create the Stone Cold Stunner. The move itself is a modified Ace Crusher, taken from John Laurinitis, but it was Roberts' idea to have Austin kick the opponent in the stomach to set it up.
-Was supposed to be the Higher Power, but Vince McMahon instead took that role for himself.
-Considered to be one of the greatest wrestlers who never held any kind of title in both WWE and WCW.
-Former member of The Army of Darkness
-Former member of Los Gringos Locos
-Former member of The Legion of Doom (NWA version)
-Current manager of La Faccion Ingobernable
-Is now a professional kingfisher.
-Appeared in the movies "Trancers 4: Jack of Swords" in 1994, "Little Creeps" and "Hogtown" in 2012, "Psychotic State" in 2013, "College Fright Night", "Heavy Water", "Catch of the Day", and "El Alambrista: La Venganza" in 2014, "Toxic Tutu" in 2015, and "Betting on Baker" and "The Bet" in 2016.
-Appeared in the TV shows "Boy Meets World" in 1996 and "Lucas Bros. Moving Co." in 2013, 2014, 2015
-WWE released a DVD set featuring Roberts entitled "Jake Roberts: Pick Your Poison" in 2006
-Was a panelist on the "Tales from the Territories" episode entitled "Mid-South: Bullets, Blades & Bar Fights" with Jim Ross, Michael Hayes, and Ted DiBiase
-Among the interviewees for the "Dark Side of the Ring" episodes entitled "Shattered: The Magnum T. A. Story" and "The Junkyard Dog"
-Voted Inspirational Wrestler of the Year by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1996
-Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2014
-Inducted into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2020
-Ranked # 23 in the 1991 PWI 500
-Ranked # 60 in the 1992 PWI 500
-Ranked # 80 in the 1993 PWI 500
-Ranked # 57 in the 1994 PWI 500
-Ranked # 161 in the 1996 PWI 500
-Ranked # 178 in the 1997 PWI 500
-Ranked # 330 in the 1998 PWI 500