Jake Roberts

Real name: Aurelian Smith Jr.
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 252 lbs.
Date of birth: May 30, 1955
Born: Gainesville, TX
From: Stone Mountain, GA
Pro debut: 1974
Trained by: no formal training
Finishing move: DDT

Biography

– Roberts made his in ring debut in Baton Rouge, LA.
– On November 27, 1980 in New Orleans, LA, Roberts defeated Paul Ellering.
– In June 1981, Roberts wrestled away the Mid-South North American title from the Grappler.
– In mid 1981, Roberts and Jay Youngblood teamed up to capture the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team title.
– On October 23, 1983, Roberts knocked out Brett Wayne at the Omni in Atlanta, GA.
– Roberts defeated Ron Garvin on November 6, 1983 in Atlanta, GA to capture the NWA National Television title.
– Roberts, Gino Hernandez and Chris Adams beat Bobby Fulton, Kerry and Mike Von Erich on October 27, 1984 to win the World Class Six Man Tag Team title in Dallas, TX.
– On January 28, 1985 in Ft. Worth, TX, Roberts, Hernandez and Adams defeated the Fabulous Freebirds.
– On March 30, 1985, Roberts defeated Shawn Michaels.
– Roberts defeated Dick Slater in a tournament final on January 1, 1986 in Tulsa, OK to capture the Mid-South Television title.
– On February 14, 1986 in Houston, TX, Roberts regained the Mid-South Television title from Slater.
– At Wrestlemania II, Roberts made short work of George Wells.
– Roberts attacked Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat prior to their scheduled match at the May 3, 1986 “Saturday Night’s Main Event” television taping. As a result, the match never started.
– Roberts arrived at Wrestlemania III with rock star Alice Cooper.
– At the 1987 Survivor Series, Roberts, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Randy Savage, Brutus Beefcake, and Steamboat beat Danny Davis, Harley Race, Hercules Hernandez, Honkeytonk Man, and Ron Bass.
– At the January 2, 1988 “Saturday Night’s Main Event,” Roberts defeated Sika.
– Roberts defeated Hernandez at the 1988 Summerslam in New York, NY.
– At Summerslam ’90, Roberts defeated Bad News Brown. The Big Bossman served as the special guest referee.
– At Wrestlefest ’90 on October 22nd in Hartford, CT, Roberts defeated the Warlord.
– On March 24, 1991 at Wrestlemania VII, Roberts defeated Rick Martel in a “blind-fold” match.
– Roberts sent a present that was received by Miss Elizabeth at the 1991 Summerslam following her “marriage” to Savage. When the package was opened, a snake was inside.
– At Clash of the Champions XX on September 2, 1992, Roberts, Rick Rude, the Super Invader, and Big Van Vader defeated Sting, Nikita Koloff, and the Steiner brothers in an elimination match.
– On November 12, 1993, Roberts, the Love Machine (Art Barr), and Eddy Guerrero defeated Konnan, Perro Aguayo, and Blue Panther in Los Angles, CA.
– Roberts defeated the Dirty White Boy on May 2, 1994 in Harriman, TN for the SMW (Smoky Mountain Wrestling) title.
– Roberts returned to the World Wrestling Federation in early 1996.
– At In Your House VIII on May 26, 1996, Roberts defeated Justin Bradshaw.
– At In Your House X on September 22, 1996, Roberts defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
– Roberts was voted Pro Wrestling Illustratrated’s Inspirational Wrestling of the Year for 1996.
– Roberts did a run in at ECW’s Hardcore Heaven ’97 PPV, and interfered during the Tommy Dreamer vs. Jerry Lawler match.
– At the 1998 Hardcore Heaven PPV in New Orleans, Roberts and Dreamer defeated Jack Victory and Justin Credible.
– In October 1999, an obviously intoxicated Roberts competed at the now-infamous Heroes of Wrestling event. Later that month, he also appeared in Barry W. Blaustein’s film “Beyond the Mat”, which again, shed light on Roberts’ substance abuse issues
– In 2001, Roberts moved to England and began competing for several independent promotions
– On October 19, 2002, Roberts defeated Johnny Moss to win the NWA-UK Hammerlock Title, but would lose it back the next day
– In November 2002, Roberts promoted his own Real Stars of Wrestling event in Southend, England. He defeated The Honky Tonk Man in the main event. Roberts would promote two further events in the next few months
– On March 25, 2003, Roberts fought British Heavyweight Champion Alex Shane to a no-contest
– In October 2004, Roberts wrestled his final match in the UK before moving back Stateside. Unfortunately, he turned up in no fit state to perform and nearly hijacked the show with a promo about the recently-deceased Ray ‘Big Boss Man’ Traylor
– Roberts appeared in a special guest referee role at TNA Bound For Glory 2006
– In December 2007, Roberts underwent a WWE-sponsored drug rehab program. According to an interview with Jim Ross the following May, Roberts had successfully completed the program
– Roberts appeared in the ring during Jay Lethal and So Cal Val’s wedding at Slammiversary 2008
– On May 9, 2009, Roberts & Mike Blade defeated The Tower of Power (Josh Crawford & The Modern Day Superstar) to win the PWF Tag Team Titles
– Roberts wrestled his retirement match at a PWG event in January 2011, defeating Sinn Bodhi
– On June 30, 2011, Roberts was voted into the GERWECK.NET Hall of Fame
– By October 2012, Roberts had fallen off the wagon again. He moved in with Diamond Dallas Page, who Roberts credits with saving his life and restoring his sobriety. The recovery process was later shown in the documentary ‘The Resurrection of Jake the Snake’
– Roberts returned to the ring for NEW in September 2013, competing on the winning side of a six-man tag team match
– In 2020, Roberts arrived in AEW as the manager of fellow new signee Lance Archer