The Dark Secrets of Jake Roberts' Hellish WCW Downfall!

Pro Wrestling Stories Learn more

Jake Roberts, with his eerily soft, cold tone and a pet snake by his side, captivated wrestling fans' attention in the '80s and '90s. Learn more

Roberts was set to face the still relatively new Undertaker at WrestleMania VIII, and a win for the "Dead Man" would have further cemented him as a truly unstoppable force in the company.

[{"selector":"#anim-9a15e5d0-db3b-4568-a517-5a81a8c750e3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-42d1c38e-c337-4f6f-87bb-7eb4c01cb529","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8dda394-eaf4-4b33-b9c9-c3535393c9b3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(96.95291%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Roberts cleanly and decisively put over the Undertaker, becoming the second victim in his storied streak. Here, he made Taker look like a megastar on his way out of the company.

[{"selector":"#anim-3ba9c430-66b9-4563-b3f2-d3c7f3b250ae","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93e325e0-64aa-4a74-97ca-8e6663ff949d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-94b819c3-97ee-44fa-894d-698580790be2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(121.32964%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Being a massive name from the WWF, Jake Roberts was signed to rival company WCW in 1992 by then-President Kip Frye.

[{"selector":"#anim-004fcb7a-d93f-4292-a34f-f69fca1e7a7e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc1e07a7-3c75-49c0-a7af-813b295d3785","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-415bff09-308d-462b-a7f1-708e435c227b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(96.95291%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Indeed, Jake Roberts' feuds with “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, and “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase are celebrated as some of the most memorable and impactful rivalries in professional wrestling history.

[{"selector":"#anim-3535a27b-593c-41c4-a382-205b1d21eacd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-df1b22df-53fd-4e68-bcfe-f146f048e521","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0ad20320-06d6-4488-a94b-6ead94d5d153","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(121.32964%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

“The Snake,” however, was never regarded with such status in WCW.

[{"selector":"#anim-033cc8d3-cbfd-40f5-80a6-9eb5c4b4cdaa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4b4a0c82-6e16-4ffb-8bf3-38d86e929359","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(96.95291%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10091691-89a7-454b-bfe6-2fa75665c199","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

SWIPE UP TO READ THE FULL POST

[{"selector":"#anim-8005673f-1bb2-4968-8195-44f91da56d8c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d98d48d-d5c5-4888-944c-1773889e873f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8e81f33e-3f08-40e7-bdb6-d9d31e2e2b71","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

More Stories

[{"selector":"#anim-17e39dc6-eee8-4e97-a5ce-10ce302034fa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f175454c-5b17-46ec-ac64-7c218e155c3c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -149.51989%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-392d8b37-5982-4f98-8927-1ccbf1ade46e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 50%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b66c4557-1035-4c54-8b5d-fc5dba89b0d2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.47, 0, 0.745, 0.715)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cfaf7ef7-bde4-40ed-a545-e4de3d943b95","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 50%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6ef0ed95-63db-4141-909c-a8bff37265f1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.47, 0, 0.745, 0.715)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-086f49dd-ccf2-46d1-9804-4ba24175e1bd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 50%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-662ef4b1-cb49-4933-bf22-a70049dae545","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.47, 0, 0.745, 0.715)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09a0f553-243d-4a21-81b1-068ecd68f94f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.47, 0, 0.745, 0.715)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-520245f3-6ca5-4120-bb92-54078bf6ed58","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08f3bdb1-7198-4c4a-b4a3-0c082f4a11ec","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.47, 0, 0.745, 0.715)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ccb29f9-3ef2-4539-8ce5-86fc4db608e4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d271f417-0bcd-40e2-bcdc-cc60cc993c41","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.47, 0, 0.745, 0.715)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-304cd772-c114-4624-8cce-e8882a0ba131","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c22b2e5c-158f-40f8-a4b8-4c0692e042c1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.47, 0, 0.745, 0.715)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5f2a8370-d260-4f3f-a905-8a0ef935ab3e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9da10838-e8e8-4fb4-8917-4812955c4669","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.47, 0, 0.745, 0.715)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9f41d783-5501-49a1-a74f-8602c370b814","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-13f496d6-9e60-4a84-b77f-c98336113842","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.47, 0, 0.745, 0.715)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4afd2c19-d9d0-4567-bfe1-1b958b74a6c6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 225%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4030d599-9742-4b31-a7b0-8434c414c4d2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.47, 0, 0.745, 0.715)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc995e07-950a-4eae-8aa3-b78472d29e4f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b1befb6-9f6d-47ee-ad69-e8eae6d7e12e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.47, 0, 0.745, 0.715)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab8beb84-6342-4b35-aa86-0a26e9b5e692","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab92fb8b-e378-4942-951b-99a1cba083ad","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.47, 0, 0.745, 0.715)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a81bf7a8-c913-41ee-ba15-45bd18b83ac3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 225%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7800c148-e788-4bfd-8eba-6ff1bda26602","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.47, 0, 0.745, 0.715)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68b3ebaa-6208-4074-adc6-310b01a8c17d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cd127e63-684a-46df-8227-30c143b8bcc5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.47, 0, 0.745, 0.715)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-39e08dd5-a548-4b5d-88df-f6751a41eac3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 200%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4992e683-54cc-44cb-a7b7-1996f4f7040d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.47, 0, 0.745, 0.715)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-73d5928f-efcb-4280-80e9-8dd2fd27f9fd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 225%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"direction":"normal","duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1)","fill":"both"}] Hulk Hogan and Jake Roberts: Why Vince Rejected Their Feud Jake Roberts – “How Jim Duggan and I Almost Died!” Sam Houston | A Wrestler Coming to Terms With His Past See More See More See More