WWE: 10 Things You Need To Know About Jake "The Snake" Roberts

3. Beyond The Mat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08OzKr-JytI "Sometimes I realize that the person I hate most in this life is the person looking in the mirror... that's a scary thought". Jake's words in the documentary "Beyond the Mat" did not reflect the man we thought we knew. But it was 11 years after the feud with Rick Rude, and a lot can happen in 11 years. He had memorable feuds with the likes of Savage, the Ultimate Warrior, and the Undertaker. He had brief stints in WCW and AAA in Mexico. He even came back to the WWF for one last run; his bible-thumping gimmick launched Stone Cold Steve Austin's "3:16" speech at King of the Ring. Eleven years later, "Beyond the Mat" shone a harsh light on Jake's battle with drugs and alcohol. His wife, Cheryl, had divorced him, and he was estranged from his daughter from a previous marriage. Jake was bloated and shameless, and it became a sad emblem for what was happening to the pro wrestling stars of the 80's. The company paid for his rehab €“ 8 years later €“ in an effort to quell the waves of bad publicity surrounding the McMahons. The rehab did not take. Jake tried to start anew in Britain; he tried TNA; he tried Booker T's PWA promotion and many indies in between. It became increasingly clear that Jake was unfit to perform, and even unfit to hold a microphone. Substance abuse was ruining him, and the future looked bleak for the man who so loved the ring.