10 Reasons Why Jake Roberts Is Wrestling’s Original Antihero
Nobody played by their own rules quite like the legendary Jake "The Snake" Roberts.
When describing the performer that is Jake 'The Snake' Roberts, a whole stream of words enter your mind - hero, villain, fighter, addict - but perhaps the best word to describe the venomous 'Snake Man' is antihero.
Before there was Roman Reigns, before there was Brock Lesnar, and even before there was 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, no-one lived life on the edge and defied authority quite like the hellraiser from from Stone Mountain, Georgia.
Jake Roberts was a complete enigma in the sport of wrestling and one of the first examples of “shades of grey” personalities in an industry that was very much black and white at the time. Far from good yet not wholly evil, the flawed character of Jake the Snake was one that resonated with the audience regardless of whether he was heel or face. All of which made him one of the most recognisable faces of the 1980s wrestling boom.
His take no prisoners, anti-authoritarian attitude made him a captivating performer and the addition of a live snake was the icing on the cake. Jake Roberts was one of the most complete performers in the history of the sport and, when he was at his best, he was masterful.
Trust me.
10. A Loner
When it came to allies in the World Wrestling Federation, Jake Roberts was an island unto himself.
While he did have sporadic on-screen partners and associates from time to time, most stars of the World Wrestling Federation knew better than to trust a snake. With Roberts, there was always an underlying threat of betrayal present when the unpredictable and volatile 'Snake Man' was involved.
With a reputation as a ruthless villain with loyalties only to himself, few would be foolish enough to let their guard down when the smiling Roberts would ask his fellow man to trust him. Luckily for Roberts, he was a true cerebral master of the ring and didn’t need anyone to fall back on. He lay with snakes and the slippery serpents were all the back-up he would ever need.
His most notable allegiance came with The Undertaker and Paul Bearer. Born out of 'Taker's feud with Ultimate Warrior, the association with 'The Deadman' seemed like a perfect match made in hell. Inevitably, it would be Roberts that turned on 'Taker, proving once more that if you play with a snake, sooner or later, you’re going to get bit.