Aurelian Smith, Jr.

Aurelian Smith, Jr. (better known as Jake "The Snake" Roberts) was a notorious heel in the WWF in the 1980's and 1990's, known for his spellbinding promos, his use of psychology in his matches and inventing the DDT maneuver. But in what must be the most unusual gimmick in WWF history, to which he owed his name, Roberts would bring a huge, live python to ringside; after stunning his opponent (usually a jobber) he would coil the constrictor around the opponent's neck, which would proceed to strangle the fellow senseless. It was a masterly show of kayfabe, as the wrestler lay flailing and foaming at the mouth with this monstrous snake squeezing the life out of him.

Profile

• Height: 6'5"
• Weight: 260lbs
• Birthday: May 30, 1955
• Hometown: Stone Mountain, Georgia
• Trained By: Brad Rheingans
• Professional Debut: May 13, 1975
• Previous Identities: Jake Roberts, Jake "The Snake" Roberts
• Previous Manager(s): Paul Ellering, Cheryl Roberts, Alice Cooper, Jimmy Hart, Kevin Sullivan, Paul Jones, Sherri Martel
• Quotes: "Trust me."
• Finishing/Signature Move(s): DDT ("The End"), Short-arm Clothesline

Career

Roberts started his career in 1975 in the Georgia area and made his name in the NWA as part of Paul Ellering's heel stable, The Legion of Doom. He feuded with Ron Garvin in the 1980's over the NWA TV Title.

Roberts feuded with "Macho Man" Randy Savage (around 1991) and later with The Undertaker. But perhaps his best-known feud was against Ravishing Rick Rude. In one incident the self-loving Rude took liberties with Roberts's wife (who would sometimes accompany Roberts to the ring); later Rude appeared at a match wearing a pair of tights emblazoned with a visage of Mrs. Roberts. An irate Jake turned up and tore off Rude's tights, sending him running apparently naked from the ring. To the television audience the footage was censored, but to the live crowd is was apparent he was wearing a thong.

Jake wrestled in WCW in 1992 and aligned himself with The Barbarian and Cactus Jack to feud with Sting and Nikita Koloff. He was bit by his own snake after a PPV match against Sting at Halloween Havoc on October 25, 1992.

Jake attempted to return to the WWF as a Bible-reading face in 1996 and was defeated and driven out by Stone Cold Steve Austin. Austin, mocking Roberts' recital of the biblical passage John 3:16 told Roberts after a match: "Austin 3:16 says 'I just kicked your ass!'"

One of the more memorable moments in his career was when he had Alice Cooper in his corner during a Wrestlemania.

Jake's career was derailed by problems with drugs and alcohol. He still wrestles on the indy circuit, though along with his drug and alcohol abuse (well chronicled in the documentary "Beyond the Mat") his career has also been hampered by a series of legal problems. In one notorious 1999 pay-per-view show, Heroes of Wrestling, he cut a rambling, incoherent promo in which he heavily slurred his words. Minutes later, he staggered toward the ring, apparently drunk, for his scheduled match with Jim Neidhart. During the match, when his snake wriggled free from the bag, he waved the snake toward the audience while it was protruding from his crotch. [1] [2] [3]

He was recently seen on a March 14th, 2005 episode of WWE's RAW in Atlanta, Georgia, as part of a storyline involving Randy Orton facing The Undertaker at Wrestlemania (as Roberts lost to The Undertaker at WM8). His appearance was greatly received despite the fact he was considerably over-weight and grey. He even got cheered during his in-ring confrontation with Orton which saw the pair trash talk, as Roberts believed Orton had bitten off more than he could chew. Roberts said to Orton that he was there to "Reintroduce your brain to his mouth, cause you're talkin' out your ass!" This led to a comeback of Orton saying he would make a bigger impact than Jake did his whole career. In response, Roberts said he would show Randy Orton 12-feet of impact, and bent over to pick up the sack (containing a python). At this point Orton grabbed Roberts from behind, but Roberts took Orton down with a stiff short-arm clothesline. The still-cheering crowd called for Roberts to hit the DDT, but as he set up for the DDT, Orton reversed it into an RKO.

Trivia

• Jake is the son of wrestler, Grizzly Smith (Aurelian Smith).

• Jake's half-brother is wrestler Sam Houston

• Jake's half-sister is wrestler Rockin' Robin

Titles and Accomplishments

• 2-time NWA Television Champion
• 1-time NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champion (with Jay Youngblood)
• 2-time NWA Mid-South North American Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time Smokey Mountain Wrestling Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time Mid-South Wrestling Association Louisiana Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time Mid-South Wrestling Association Television Champion
• 1-time Stampede Wrestling North American Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time WCCW Six Man Tag Team Champion (with Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez)
• 1-time WCCW Television Champion
• 1-time SMW Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time WWA Puerto Rican Champion
• 1-time AWF Puerto Rican Champion

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 100 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003.
• Jake won the PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler Award in 1996.

External Links

WWE Profile