3. Standing Out In The Land Of The Giants
As alluded to earlier in this feature, Jake Roberts made a name for himself at a time when wrestlers were big, bulky and possibly on a cocktail of enhancing substances. At 6'6", Roberts was a tall guy, but he was never the biggest physically. With a WWF roster made up of the likes of Hercules, The Warlord, Ultimate Warrior, The Barbarian, Hulk Hogan and Dino Bravo, Roberts' unathletic frame could have easily seen him get lost in the shuffle. To Jake's credit, he simply let his ring psychology and promos achieve more than even the biggest body could have gotten him. Roberts' promo style has already been covered here, but he was just as chillingly effective in the ring as behind a microphone. Whether it was as a fired-up babyface or as a slippery, dastardly heel, Roberts would always have the crowd in the palm of his hand, manipulating them to react exactly how he wanted them to. Never one for elaborate moves and behaviour, Jake's ability lay with the little things, the small mannerisms and slow, precise attacks. Wrestling fans these days, particularly online, love to throw the term 'ring psychology' around at any given opportunity. Jake Roberts was a true master of this side of the wrestling business, and he used it to achieve great success. Hell, at a time when Hulkamania was running wild, brother, Jake actually got fans to boo Hulk Hogan when they came face-to-face. Talk about sticking two fingers up to the 'roided-up masses.