10 Veterans Who Would Be Ideal Role Models For Younger Wrestlers
6. Jake 'The Snake' Roberts (Ring Psychology)
Jake Roberts was one of the pioneers of ring psychology. As a heel, he was able to make those around him uncomfortable and manipulate his opponent’s weaknesses to great effect. He terrified his opponents (even Andre the Giant), using his pet snakes, spoke in a low, ominous whisper instead of yelling at the top of his lungs, and he always knew when to do the right move in the ring.
Because of this skill, the lanky and somewhat limited Jake Roberts was able to become a huge hit with the audience.
His knowledge of ring psychology is so profound that many wrestlers actually go to him for advice, including Randy Orton for one. Roberts is a fountain of knowledge on how to work the crowd properly while concealing one’s weaknesses, and keeping them in the palm of your hand is one of the best things a wrestler can do.
And Jake Roberts, who was such a good heel that people believed that he was actually enjoying himself when he was doing the heinous things he did, is the master of this lost craft in today’s professional wrestling.