Veteran WWE Hall of Famer Jake “The Snake” Roberts has made a stunning personal revelation about his legendary gimmick during an appearance on Going Ringside. The wrestling icon shockingly admitted he has always been deathly afraid of snakes and initially resisted bringing them into his character. It was only the lucrative financial incentives written into his contract that convinced him to proceed, but that fear never truly left him outside the ring. Still, when the bell sounded, he transformed completely into his fearless alter ego, who seemed unafraid of anything.
“I didn’t want to, but there were some numbers on the contract that convinced me to do it … I’m terrified of snakes. I hate snakes.. Yes, I am. It’s so strange. I’d be terrified 24 hours a day, but when the bell rang, I became somebody else. Jake Roberts was not afraid of anything.” – Jake Roberts
Roberts left an indelible mark across his two memorable WWE runs. Debuting in 1986, the cerebral heel captivated audiences with chilling psychological promos, the revolutionary DDT, and, of course, his signature python Damien. Highlights included a savage concrete DDT on Ricky Steamboat and a memorable feud with Randy Savage, although a planned program with Hulk Hogan never materialized. Returning in 1996 as a Bible-quoting babyface, Roberts famously lost to Stone Cold Steve Austin at King of the Ring, unknowingly giving rise to the iconic “Austin 3:16” phenomenon.
