8 Most EVIL People In Wrestling History
5. Grizzly Smith
The life and times (and alleged crimes) of Grizzly Smith were discussed by many within the wrestling industry long before they were detailed for the general public, first in 1999 via Jake Roberts' appearance on the seminal Beyond The Mat, and again in more in detail on the harrowing edition of VICE's Dark Side Of The Ring that focussed on Smith family's abusive and dangerous patriarch.
His rap sheet is repulsive, including rape and statutory rape, child sexual abuse, child grooming and exploitation. Jake was the product of Smith allegedly raping the young daughter of the woman he was dating at the time. Grizzly forced her to marry him against her will, seeing as a possibly pregnant 13-year-old daughter of the woman he was dating would bring unwanted attention. Smith's daughter Robin (later WWE Women's Champion Rockin' Robin) went into harrowing detail on Dark Side Of The Ring on how she was sexually abused by her father from the age of eight-years-old until she was a teenager. Jake added that Grizzly sexually abused minors during his childhood, forced him into sexual situations with other people, and to participate in the abusive household dynamics that defined and almost destroyed the children's lives. Grizzly died in 2010, having never faced legal consequences of any kind, nor - per their recounting - apologised or acknowledged any of his wrongdoings.
Jake in particular went on to have very public battles with drugs and alcohol that almost cost him his life on multiple occasions, in-part thanks the trauma he experienced in his childhood, even referencing how they weren't smartened up to wrestling being a work as kids being enough to leave him constantly worried that his Father could die or suffer a serious injury. Robin had battles with alcohol, and has since bravely spoken with other outlets in an effort to raise awareness for those who may be experiencing similar abuse.