Met Jake in October 2022 .. he signed my 1990 WWF magazine with him on the cover… he took a picture with my son. Thank you Aurelian for making one of my childhood dreams come true!!!
I grew up in this Era, and I was a Hulkamaniac. However, as I've grown older, and revisited those times, I have to say with clear conviction. Jake "The Snake" Roberts was a better talker, and better in ring performer than Hulk Hogan. As a child I never really knew, or saw, just how much Hulk Hogan really didn't do in the ring. Clothesline, bodyslam, boot, leg drop, battered, impervious. Rinse and repeat. There was no psychology to it. Everything Jake did was with cunning, and calculated intent. Jake "The Snake" Roberts is a master class performer. God bless you Jake!!
I look at it more like they were 2 different characters and each actor was a master at portraying that character. Terry Bollea himself had a more expansive number of moves when he wrestled in Japan for example, but in the states, his Hulk Hogan character emphasized sheer power and strength, so his wrestling moves were by design limited to that. Jake's character however, was cunning, crafty, and calculating, and his speech reflected that when given the microphone. Again, love them both, but they were portraying completely different characters.
My uncle was a bit older than me & I was around 7-9 during these years. A Hulkamaniaic. However I loved Jake & my uncle loved the DDT & chanted it. Jake was over in my home & I can remember thinking it was totally normal. I also loved Piper. So going against Hulk was fine by me unless Hulk wasn't directly involved in the match. Although at times I would find myself conflicted about it. I would have definitely loved that fued & I remember VERY CLEARLY fans popping for the DDT. Hogan must have shut it down.
For whatever reason the feud never materialised -- be it the possibility that Hogan didn't commit due to personal insecurities about fan reaction, or be because he is telling the truth -- as fans we missed out bigtime on what could have been one of the best feuds of that golden era. Hogan was a phenomenal hero, and Jake was the most sinister heel of that time. The promos, vignettes, and build up would have been amazing!
@@natwolf687 yet there is video evidence of the match Hogan mentions aand the crowd was dead. I'll take your bet since you auto decided Hogan was lying.
I always heard they never did a program because the one time they did wrestle, the fans were cheering for Jake. I remember Jake being red hot back then. Maybe it's a good thing as Vince would have had Hogan kick out after Jake gave him a DDT.
That feud would have set records. I also think about Jake The Snake as champion. A Jake Roberts Ric Flair feud would have been ridiculous. Bret Hart,Shawn Michaels,Razor Ramon all would have made money left and right.
It's quite possible that when he was in the rotation to become a big name guy in MidSouth that Jake Roberts probably Wrestled once or twice against the touring Ric Flair just to test the waters for a future "10 Pounds of Gold" challenge. Roberts held the Louisiana belt there back in 1980.🤔🎤🤼♂️B.W.
From shoot interviews I have seen I believe the issue was that Jake was becoming so popular that he was going to split the crowd with Hogan. Hogan was the golden goose, so Vince didn't want some fans to go against Hogan. Therefore the feud was scrapped. When Jake DDTed Hogan on the Snake pit, there were cheers instead of boos for Jake.
Hulk Hogan telling a story would be like The Hulkster explaining that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated 10 minutes before his main event against The Late Great André The Giant, prior to his Wrestlemania III entrance. Hulk Hogan is either a All-Time make-believe storyteller or Mr. Bollea clearly has shown that he is suffering from CTE or PTSD courtesy of his ex-wife Linda Hogan..
Hogan pulled 5000 muscles in his back when the bullet was fired but still slammed André, resulting in Lincoln passing away the very next night. Probably.
@David Saul And Hogan saw John Wilkes Booth the very next day but The Hulkster couldn't stop Booth because he was warming up for his Wrestlemania 5 Main Event against The Macho Man Randy Savage 😀
I still find it humorous that people refer to his now ex wife as “Linda Hogan”. Don’t any of you know the difference between stage names and real names and know how to use them?
Honestly, I'm glad it didn't work out that they ever had a big feud, just for the simple reason that wrestling that Hulk Hogan boilerplate match would've meant Hogan kicking out of the DDT at the end of the match. His version of the DDT should've been, if it wasn't in reality, the most protected finisher in WWF history.
I appreciate that they both were respectful, Hogan gets trashed by he never smears anyone and I'm glad he didn't smear Jake. I also like Jake's response here, no negativity just a missed opportunity that was really everyone's and no one's fault at the same time. The WWF was RED HOT at the time so they went with was was expedient instead of working out a program.
Hogan hasn’t said anything negative in a long time, but he’s said things about Warrior, Savage, Foley, and ,possibly, Austin, but I can’t guarantee that last one.
I would say Jake's drug and alcohol problem was widely known at this time and nobody wanted to take a chance on Jake. Even Warrior was talking crap to Jake about not screwing up his money and Hulk was known to be very serious on his cash as well if you've heard Lex tell Hannibal about the time Hulk wanted to smash him for real in front of everybody at the first Nitro.
Nah. The thing with Hogan happened in 1986. Warrior didn't even come to the WWF until June of 1987 and didn't have an angle with Roberts until 91 or 92. Hogan was doing just as much junk as everyone else in 86/87, you can see it in the promos, and I don't think Roberts habits were as bad as they eventually got back in those early years.
It would have been a weird match. Hogan heels at the time were these monstrous men that legitimately look like they were going to be a challenge. They were either extremely muscular or they were over 400 lbs. Jake wasn't fat and Jake wasn't muscular. So he didn't fit the image at all. That's not saying that the few couldn't have been something. They could have really played this up similar to what they did with the macho Man years later. I don't know if they would have had a snake actually bite Hogan, or if Hogan would have even allowed that. But what I am saying is that in order for this to work that would have had to have gotten very creative.
Or it could've been great. Roddy was "somewhat" muscular, but certainly no giant. Like Roddy, Jake could've used speed, raw viciousness, trickery and dirty moves to counter Hogan's power. The way Jake's persona was, it's believable that he could've even gotten into Hogan's head. Like others here, I do believe that drug/alcohol issues kept this from happening.
@@photonicus if we're being honest the Piper/Hogan feud was kind of bland. Maybe if they let Piper take a title it would have worked but he only being a minor foil didn't click in my opinion.
@@Rockhound6165 I'm being honest when I say I found Piper to be evil incarnate. The ultimate foil. I really felt like I didn't want that man after me. A guy like Bundy may be a giant, but can be outrun. Warrior gasses out just running to the ring. Don't get me wrong, I love Hogan's more gigantic opponents but I love the smaller sneakier ones too. A mix is what I like I guess.
OK, we need to talk about what ACTUALLY HAPPENED here. First of all, when Jake and Hogan wrestled in Providence, the crowd popped like crazy - there's a clip on RU-vid, the quality is bad but the crowd reaction is still audible. Hogan's claim that "it was like a funeral" is a lie. Second, Jake DDT'd Hogan on the Snake Pit, a segment that was supposed to kickstart their program together...one problem, the crowd chanted "DDT! DDT!" instead of booing Jake. Hogan got spooked that Jake could challenge his role as the top face, and lied his ass off to squash the program to make sure Jake never got a shot at it. That is how it really went down - all these years later, it's time the truth was told. Jake deserves better than to be gaslighted into believing he didn't work well enough with Hogan to deserve the program, because that just isn't true.
@@TJSpyke That was a lifetime ago. You still hold that against him? What a mark. And I'm sure if we shown a spotlight on your life, you've been 100% kind and honest and respectful with absolutely everyone in your life? Grow up.
@@RolandRED He was supposed to lose after the tombstone in the ring, but at the last minute he told the undertaker (who was still new) to ignore that and tombstone him on the outside of the ring. He was leaving the company and selfishly wanted to make himself look stronger
@@MrM-u3h I would say that last part is crazy, but something about the way Jake did the move was awesome. I mean, the best thing I can compare it to is the Scorpion Death Drop, and Jake’s DDT looked more credible than Sting’s, not that I’m dissing Sting.
@@jeremygott7709 DDT is a standard move now like a body slam but back then it was lights out. I mean Dino Bravo would put people away with a sidewalk slam.
Hogan and Jake were my favorites. Looking back I think that they should've feuded when Jake turned heel against Warrior but then he left and Hogan was gone shortly after. They just never crossed paths again, even in WCW they barely missed each other. But it was smart to turn Jake babyface in the 80's as they needed someone strong in that #2 spot behind Hogan. Hogan, Jake, and Demolition imo were the best SS team.
I actually think it would have been an epic feud. Jake the Snake could’ve done so much more. I actually wish his life didn’t fall apart in the late 90s because he would’ve been a rad reveal as the leader behind the ministry instead of Vince.
Jake, you saved my life in Ada Oklahoma one time many many years ago, and unless you see this message you wouldn't even know it man. I was about 16 or 17 would have been some time between 97 to 99 I think, I want to say it was your upstart promotion and you wrestled The honky tonk Man where the dirt floor on the outside because you were in the Agriplex. You never needed a belt to make you great, and there are so many people that owe it to you that they even became somebody to get a belt... I used to have the "I want my DDT" t-shirts. Over the years as I have grown hit my 40s and I've learned some things about you and your struggles and how we shared some of them I couldn't help but to cry like a b****. When I saw how you looked and how awesome it was to watch you walk out on that stage in AEW that first time with the Cody Rhodes promo, and after everything you've been through, and the fact that you made it through not just what we both have been through but the s*** that you had to suffer that was so much worse than anything I have ever experienced, I couldn't help but to cry man because been going through the s*** kind of here lately last couple years and dude the inspiration I got from you doing that you might have just saved my life again man
Jake! Just found this channel. Jake was my favorite wrestler when I was a kid. I've seen his talking show in San Antonio with a comedian friend of his at this pizza joint. He pretended my wife pinched his ass, which she may have. :) amazing show one of my all time memories. His signed photo is the image on my work group me app. Can't wait to watch the back log videos and all future videos.
I thought the real reason they scrapped the Hulk Hogan/Jake Robert's feud was because when Jake DDTed Hogan on the Snake Pit people actually cheered Jake (at least half the crowd did) and nobody knew how to handle that? Before I even heard Jake's response here I was almost certain that was what he was going to say.
Man I can just see Jake the Snake doing the "Trust Me" gimmick on Hogan during that time period. Jake the Snake one of the best storytellers in the business could have made fans hate him to the fullest.
This is so tough. Both guys are known liars. I could totally see Hulk shutting it down, but I can also see Jake not being seen as a worthy competitor/he was too fucked up.
I definitely take everything both of them say with a massive grain of salt. For what it's worth, I remember a few years ago seeing an interview with Jake where he said he never worked with Hogan because there was an incident where he dropped a DDT on him and the crowd began to still chant Jake's name and Hogan couldn't stand putting someone else over at the time or Vince wouldn't allow it or something of that nature. Jake The Snake is probably my favorite character ever but Aurelius Smith leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to telling the truth.
@@georgeelmerdenbrough6906 The DDT will forever stand as the greatest finisher of all time. I honestly can't even think of another move that can even compare to it and Jake was such a psychologist that he always built to it perfectly and kept people on the edge of their seat waiting for it.
Gotta love Jake. On the few times he wasn't exactly honest. He pulls himself up corrects his mistake/white lie. And apologizes, then tells the truth. Gotta love a guy who cuts himself off half sentence and corrects himself by saying. Hang on that's not the truth. Love to you Jake!
I hate to say this but I agree with Hulk here. I don't see their 2 styles being complimentary. Jake/Taker, Jake/Rude, Jake/Steamboat, even Jake/Andre worked but for some reason I don't see Jake/Hogan working even a little bit.
I'll always remember watching wrestling sat mornings and Jake the Snakes feuds were what I looked fwd to. Savage, Steamboat, Andre, Undertaker, and Warrior were all great! Why couldn't it work with the Hulkster? 🤔
@@shadycnetwork OMG!!! The dude is a known piece of shit, ok so yeah you got a lot of backstabbing in wrestling but Hogan is the worst he's even said on camera he was a bit of a racist. You people are the ones who are annoying
That wasn’t really the style of booking at the time, though. WWF was built on the long face title runs where the champ was the near invincible hero of the people. Hogan was going on 3 years as champ at that point and was probably drawing even better than before. If you’re gonna drop the belt, it’s gotta be for some mega-angle, like the 1988 Main Event and it’s 33.2 million viewers that set up Wrestlemania IV, Macho elevating to the world title, and ultimately the Mega Powers explosion. When you think about it, they essentially got 2.5 years of angles and main events out of that original 1987 Andre-Hulk feud when you count all the angles that dovetailed into one another.
@@peterp2153 , yes I agree . Glad you grew up as a wrestling fan as a kid like myself . The first televised match that I saw with Hulk Hogan is when he made his return to come to the aid of Bob Backlund against the Wild Samoans in 1983 . I remember seeing Rocky 3 before that , I must have been 2 , and then when I saw him as Hulk Hogan on tv , what a difference !
What Hogan didn't "hear" was cheers for him. Those fans were chanting "DDT, DDT, DDT........" Vince had spent far too much in marketing Hogan to being the uber popular All-American Hero for him to go into a feud where the fans were cheering for his "heel" opponent.
Hulk was right, though. I don't know exactly when the Roberts thing came up in 1986, but Hogan faced Andre at WM in 87 and was immediately put in a program with Andre. That's how Savage eventually ended up with the belt and set up the Mega Powers storyline. Those were the two biggest draws in Hogan's early career. Adding Roberts into the mix at that time would have confused everything because Hogan was already locked into long stories with Andre and Savage.
Jake is one of the nicest guys in wrestling. You could tell he was pretty upset about this and even though hulk is one of those guys that does indeed deserve a lot of the flak thrown his way, Jake kept it classy.
you have a great iconic talker, with someone who could, but wasnt great on the mic thats likely why they didnt mesh. WwF fans werent ready for "small" jake vs buff hogan in that era.
Hogan was a tool. He didn't do it because when Jake gave him the DDT the fans cheered insanely loud and popped and Hogan got insecure. Didn't want Jake possibly taking the spotlight
Jake had great feuds with Macho and Rick Rude it's too bad but Jake got to work with Steve Austin and be part of the red hot Austin 3:16 gimmick something Hogan never got to do.
Yes they made a huge mistake to not push Jake the Snake Roberts to go farther into wrestling becoming world title champion...(Its too bad he wasn't world champion.)
The timing wasn't exactly right, Jake was a babyface at Hogan's absolute peak 80's babyface run. 1991/92 Hulk/Jake would have been money, but Hogan wasn't even working a full schedule at the time.
I was at that show in Providence BROTHER!!! Yeaa The Snake Man wasn't getting it done right UHHHHH HUUUHH , YEAAAA LIKE A CREAM IN A CUP , RISIN TO THE TOOPPOP YEEEAAAHHHHHH
So much is made of the fact that one night, the fans chanted DDT, like that means Jake was going to be bigger than Hulk Hogan. Hogan proved night after night that he was the top dog, and who was going to make Vince the most money. Vince knew what was best for business, and went with it. No disrespect to Jake, either, but you don't kick a gift horse in the mouth.
Jake had mic skills and was incredible in the ring. Hell he put taker over big. I heard stories that Jake was getting over and fans started cheering him and hogan who protected his spot was mad about it. Think Jake was getting muscle at the time. I do believe he spoke about this and how they told him not to work out and stuff. If you could go back in time and let the cards play I dont think hogan would of been anything more the just a superstar. His promos was trash compared to Jake. I loved the snake man... he was so into his character.
Jake has turned his life around, but lets be honest. If Jake had made all that extra money, he would have likely just used it on drugs and alcohol, it’s not like he would have used the money for anything good.
Back then, wwe wasn't big on heel champions. It's a shame.because guys like rick rude, curt hennig, Rick martel, Ted DiBiase would've made great heel champs. Let's also be fair to hogan here, back then jake wasn't exactly reliable and was on drugs. Vince isn't stupid
jake lost out on 3 money feuds. savage b/c of the elizabeth family complaining, warrior because he was fired and hogan because the fans cheered him over hulk. jake should be on the mount rushmore of wrestling, but it just didnt work out that way. understandable how he became sour and was led down a bad path given everything else that happened to him in his life. but, so glad he found his way back from the depths in which he sank. guy seems quite happy now.
Look, I really like Jake. Had his action figure in the 90's and everything, but it was probably for the better he didn't work with Hogan. Nobody would ever believe that he could beat Hogan. He had great promos but just never really looked the part. Maybe if he was more muscular something would have materialized.
@@jinmochizuki I haven't watched a Jake Roberts match in decades so I can't even remember his level of wrestling. Was it not good? Neither was Hogan's. But Hogan's presentation and Promos always worked out for him.
Hulk wanted to be paired up with monsters. That was his whole thing. It’s just a shame they couldn’t get this to work. Jake was a great heel. Hogan sucks, I hated him then and still do, finding out he’s a shitty person only solidifies my feelings even more haha.
Such a shame this feud never happened even in 91 or 92 it could have worked but they had Jake feud with Macho instead of Hogan one thing I have to say I think the fault lies more with Vince he squashed the feud immediately after Hogan got DDT'd on the snake pit he overreacted when fans cheered for Jake and he assumed fans would have cheered him in house shows across the country
I've heard a story that Hogan was getting booed at the taping the taping when Jake did the DDT on them and Hogan not working with Jake The Snake because he'll get over and I won't
Well you did have the Situation with Jake the Snake Roberts where you probably could have made money but Hogan wasnt feeling the synergy with Jake and pulled the feud after one match. But since Hogan lies alot I tend to think it was Jake was getting too much positive heat when they wrestled, all us kids back then loved the DDT and the giant Python. Plus Hogan often crapped on smaller wrestlers. I mean Jesse Ventura just wasnt on the same level as Hogan he cant say that about Jake.
Jake was red hot in the 80s and early 90s, shame hogan is and always has been about hogan as this would have been a fantastic feud. I doubt Hogan wanted to hear the chants of DDT.
Jake is all about Jake, remember how he refused to put over Undertaker cleanly at WrestleMania? The feud didn't happen because they tried it out at multiple house shows and the crowd had no interest in it
Honestly i really dont care what Hogan says, Hes usually lying. Im more interested in how great Jake looks and sounds . Its heartwarming to see him doing so well these days
Well I always heard they did house shows together and the crowd was over on Jake even though he was the heel so McMahon wasn’t to fond of that. imagine his biggest baby face at the time slash golden goose hogan getting booed at the time wouldn’t have been good for business.
Hogan, as usual, is lying to make himself look better than he is. Hogan has and always will put down ANYONE whom he thinks will outshine in any way. Hogan saw that Jake was getting cheered and that made Hogan pissed, so he had it scrapped. Vince probably agreed with Hogan to save the egomaniac's HUGE ego.
