10 Best Candidates To Induct DDP Into WWE Hall Of Fame 2017
3. Jake Roberts
If you were a fan of Jake 'The Snake' Roberts growing up – and really, which person who was watching during his era wasn’t? – then you have Diamond Dallas Page to thank for the fact that he is still with us today. That’s not conjecture; that’s something that Jake himself has admitted on numerous occasions.
Roberts’ own induction into the Hall was a tearful affair that stole the show. Here was a guy who had hit rock bottom and then found a way to dig down even deeper, sinking as low as one human being can while still breathing. And when so many others had turned their backs and given up on him, DDP reached down and helped pull him up from the abyss, giving him second, third, fourth, infinite chances.
The two have a long history together, with Jake even living with DDP and his wife Kimberly for a time during the 1980s. That cohabitation came to an end when one of Jake’s many “Damiens” got loose in the house and Kimberly insisted that it was time for 'The Snake' and his pet serpent to go. DDP credits Roberts with imparting him with crucial knowledge that helped him advance his career, and it was that effort that Jake put into him that caused him to stand by Roberts at his lowest point when few others were willing to.
The only potential downside with having Jake do the honors is that the more cynical fans among us – of which there are many - could potentially view it as an advertisement for DDP Yoga rather than a heartfelt tribute from one man to another. I personally don’t feel that way but knowing the attitude of wrestling fans I can see that being a charge, however tasteless it would be.
Regardless, Jake and DDP will be forever linked in the most emotional of ways and seeing Roberts return the favor would be an amazing moment.