10 Reasons Why Jake Roberts Is Wrestling’s Original Antihero
9. Blazed His Own Trail
Innovation can often come out of rebellion and, in the case of Jake Roberts, that theory is never more prevalent.
In an era dominated by tanned bodybuilders, Jake was conspicuously neither. He wasn't a cookie-cutter beach body - like a Tom Zenk or Dino Bravo - and he won over the fans by being different. He got over because he was believable, enigmatic and interesting, grabbing the fans' attention while others failed.
Jake was also an innovator outside of the ring. Nobody spoke like Roberts, nobody had the swagger of Roberts and nobody had the intensity of Roberts. In terms of in-ring innovation, Jake even created one of the most devastating moves in pro wrestling history - the DDT.
Born out of an accident, the legendary DDT was said to have been created by Roberts in the early '80s during a match with Len Denton. With Denton in a front facelock, Jake claims he tripped over Denton's foot, falling back and driving his opponent's head into the mat. The move has gone on to be used by virtually every wrestler to ever lace up a pair of boots since.
A trailblazer in every aspect of the game, Jake was a one of kind performer.