10 Fascinating WWE SummerSlam 1996 Facts
6. Jake Roberts Hated His Feud With Jerry Lawler
Jake Roberts' issues with intoxicants and alcohol have been long documented, and "The Snake" became an unintended poster child for wrestlers that were miraculously still alive, despite their deadly addictions. In 1996, Roberts was still struggling mightily to stay clean, despite his character being that of a man who used the word of God to help conquer his demons.
For the feud with Lawler, "The King" taunted Roberts mercilessly for being a drunk, even brandishing booze bottles in front of him to try and rile him up. Roberts would later lament having taken part in the angle, saying that it was a place that WWE didn't need to go. Tempting somebody struggling to remain sober, even as part of a work, isn't the best idea.
Roberts fell on even harder times in the ensuing years (his wince-inducing appearance at the 1999 Heroes of Wrestling pay-per-view was a prolific rock bottom) before Diamond Dallas Page helped him achieve many personal breakthroughs several years back.