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Inside the mind of a snake: Jake Roberts talks career ahead of Cleveland show

Posted: Sep 2nd 2016 By: B. J. Lisko

Professional wrestling is a high-risk occupation. Injuries are commonplace. Psyches damaged. Lives lost. There’s also the part that takes place in the ring.

In the case of wrestling icon Jake “The Snake” Roberts, the 61-year-old ring legend has seen the highest of highs and experienced the complete depths of despair. But after an incredible journey that was documented in the award-winning film, “The Resurrection of Jake the Snake,” Roberts has turned his baggage into healing performance art. The WWE Hall of Famer will bring his “Unspoken Word Tour” to the Cleveland Improv on Sept. 27.

Roberts came to prominence in the mid-’80s, and his cold, calculating demeanor and behavior quickly set him apart from other wrestlers. His famous gimmicks included his pet, Damien, a giant python that Roberts would throw on his defeated opponents after he obliterated them with his trademark finisher, the DDT.

By the late-’90s, Roberts was on the independent wrestling circuit. Problems with alcohol and drugs made him a liability to promoters, and his life soon spiraled out of control.

“The Resurrection of Jake the Snake” picks up from that point, as a clearly disheveled Roberts reaches out for help from fellow wrestling great, “Diamond” Dallas Page. The documentary is a thrilling journey and candid look at Roberts daily battles with addiction, which he eventually takes control of en route to receiving one of professional wrestling’s greatest accolades.

A busy yet cordial and engaging Roberts spoke recently about his career, battling addiction and his hopes for future ahead of his Cleveland appearance.

Q. What was it like doing your speaking show for the first time? Were you nervous at all?

A. “Naw man, it was pretty easy. Basically, I just went out there telling road stories and sharing some laughs taking a walk down memory lane. The longer I do it, the more stuff keeps coming up. In the beginning, I barely had enough material to do one show. Now, I’ve got enough to do five shows, because I keep remembering stuff. It’s great. I have a blast doing it.”

Q. Did you take any cues from anybody in the standup world?

A. “I just kind of went on my own. You know me, man. I’ve always been kind of a loner, and that’s just the way it is.”

Q. In the course of doing “The Resurrection of Jake the Snake,” what was the most surprising thing you learned about yourself?

A. “That I could actually like myself. I had so much self hate and shame from what happened to me as a kid. You learn how to hate yourself, then you get disgusted with yourself, because you learn how to medicate yourself. You screw up your career and life, then you have more hate. To actually reach a point where I said, ‘You know what, Jake? You’re coming out of this crap, and you’re a pretty cool dude.’ That was pretty amazing.”

Q. You found a resolve in yourself that some people with addiction never find. What was it about you that allowed you to come out the other side?

A. “I’d been down for so long. They talk about people reaching their bottom. I’d been living one bottom, then I even moved underneath the bottom. You live there long enough, you can do one of two things. You get comfortable with it and die. Or you can try to change. I didn’t think it was possible. I really didn’t. Dallas did an amazing job of getting me out of where I was at and changing everything about me. Everything. The way I thought. The way I perceived things. My language. All these things had to be changed. Basically, I just gave all the reins to him, because I was tired of screwing things up. I think that’s what addicts have to do. They have to give it up. When an addict is in control, they’re going to take care of their addiction. It’s just part of life. I gave all that up. I said, ’Screw it.’ Dallas, you tell me when to (crap) and when not to (crap).”

Q. Switching gears to your wrestling career, who were some of your favorite guys to work with? And do you have an ultimate match?

A. “I don’t have an ultimate match. I had too many matches that met the mark for different reasons, whether it be with Andre (the Giant), Rick Rude, Macho Man, Ricky Steamboat or Ronnie Garvin. Some of my favorites were with Ronnie Garvin, because they were so solid and so real. It was a pleasure to work with Ronnie. I had so many matches with so many great guys to work with, I was in paradise all the time.”

Q. What was it like working with Andre? He was a guy whose trust you had to earn, right?

A. “You had to earn your spot with Andre. He had to respect you, and the way he did that was by fighting you. He didn’t want somebody to just go out there and lay around. He wanted you to come at him like a man and fire on him. And I did. I used to tell people, it was the most frustrating thing in the world when you’re shooting on a guy (fighting him for real), and he doesn’t even know it.”

Q. It seemed like in the late ’80s, wrestling characters were so much more defined and unique than today. What’s your take on the product today and how it compares to WWE’s heyday?

A. “The difference is simple. These guys don’t have the time to learn their craft or to develop their character. You don’t make a character in 15 minutes or six months or a year. Let’s face facts. Nobody’s getting time to learn this stuff. They’re getting put out in the ring expected to perform, and they can’t cut interviews, they can’t even think. That’s the issue.”

Q. Are your ring days over? Do you think there’s room for you in the WWE in some kind of managing or advisory role?

A. “I’m not gonna close the door on it, because I love wrestling so much. I would love to have more input in what’s going on, but I don’t know if that would be the best thing for me. I’m so stuck in my ways, and I’m so hard-edged in believing my way is the only way, and it would probably get me in trouble. The most important thing in my life is my grandchildren and my sobriety and doing this ‘Unspoken Word’ tour. I really enjoy it. I get to meet up with so many people and talk to them and entertain them, and be a part of their lives. I don’t think me going back to the WWE would be a great thing, but I won’t shut the door on it, because I love it so much.”

Reach B.J. at 330-580-8314 or bj.lisko@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @BLiskoREP

ON STAGE

WHO: Jake “The Snake” Roberts

WHEN: Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m.

TICKETS: $20 at clevelandimprov.com

MORE INFO: jakethesnakeroberts.com, jakethesnakemovie.com