Roberts was known for his intense and cerebral promos, dark charisma, and extensive use of psychology. He often brought snakes into the ring, most famously a python.
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Aurelian Smith Jr. (born May 30, 1955, Gainesville, Texas, U.S.) is an American professional wrestler and actor also known by his in-ring name Jake “The Snake” Roberts. He is best known for his time in the WWE. He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling. He wrestled in the National Wrestling Alliance in 1983, World Championship Wrestling in 1992, and the Mexico-based Asistencia Asesoría y Administración between 1993 and 1994 and again in 1997. He appeared in Extreme Championship Wrestling during the summer of 1997 and made appearances for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling from 2006 through 2008.
Throughout his career, Roberts was known for his intense and cerebral promos, dark charisma, and extensive use of psychology. He often brought snakes into the ring, most famously a python. He was one of the subjects of the 1999 documentary film Beyond the Mat. In 2012, he moved in with fellow wrestler Diamond Dallas Page to seek help in getting his life back on track following years of alcohol and drug addiction, a period covered in the 2015 documentary The Resurrection of Jake the Snake. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 5, 2014, and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2020.
Roberts started his career in 1974 as a referee and wrestler and wrestled in various promotions like Mid-South Wrestling, Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and Georgia Championship Wrestling. Roberts had trouble developing his character, so in the late 1970s, he travelled to Canada to wrestle. While in Stampede Wrestling, Roberts feuded with the Junkyard Dog. It was in Georgia Championship Wrestling in 1983 that Roberts became part of Paul Ellering’s stable, the Legion of Doom, and began a feud with Ron Garvin over the NWA World Television Championship. In 1984, Roberts entered World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) joining up with “Gentleman” Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez in their feud against the Von Erichs, winning the WCCW Television title and the 6-Man Tag Team title.
| Name | Aurelian Smith Jr. |
| DOB | 30 May 1955, 66 years |
| Height | 198 cm |
| Weight | 113 kg |
| Occupation | Professional wrestler, Actor |
| Professional Debut | 1974 |
| Ex-wife | Karen Rauschuber, Cheryl Hagood |
| Professional Name | Jake “The Snake” Roberts |
Jake joined the WWF in 1986 and it was quite a long stay. During that time, he achieved a lot of great things in the company. After just a month, he made his pay-per-view debut in a fight against George Wells at WrestleMania 2. Jake came out victorious from the fight, demonstrating his strength by making foam come out from Wells’ mouth once he wrapped his snake around Wells’ head. Roberts’ first major feud was against Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, beginning on a nationally televised episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event VI in May 1986. Roberts executed the DDT on Steamboat on the exposed concrete floor right in front of his wife Bonnie and then proceeded to rest his snake Damien on top of a prone Steamboat. He then went on to feud with the likes of The Undertaker, Macho Man Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan.
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Roberts, however, suffered from alcohol addiction and drug problems and hence took a break from wrestling. He returned to WWE in 2005 to make a few appearances, including facing Randy Orton, and since then has stayed in wrestling, but hasn’t fought again, although he was announced for the 2014 Royal Rumble. As a result of having a successful career, Roberts was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2014. He became known for the snake he would bring with him to the ring, including a Burmese Python and Reticulated Python, which had names such as Damien and Lucifer.
Jake has been married a few times in his life. His first wife was Karen Rauschuber; they married in 1975 but there is no other information about her. He married Cheryl Hagood, his second wife and has four children with her. Their marriage lasted from 1984 until 2000. His third wife was Judy Lynn and they were married from 2006 until 2011. Jake has had several health problems, including drug and alcohol addiction, muscular cancer, obesity and double pneumonia. He has however successfully managed to recover from them all and is now healthy as ever.
