Jake "the Snake" Roberts

OVERCOMING THE ODDS Jake "the Snake" Roberts. My next Overcoming the Odds is on the one the only WWE Hall of Famer and my All Time Favorite Jake the Snake Roberts. Jake became one of the top Pro Wrestling Stars in the 80s and 90s. Credited as the Inventor of the Finishing Hold the DDT, Jake had a following that almost rivaled Hulk Hogan and the late Randy Savage. He had an Interview that was like no other and who can forget the Python Damien he brought to the ring to intimidate his opponents or the Infamous King Cobra Classic. However, Jake always had personal demons. He has claimed he entered the Pro Wrestling Business to win the love of his father (former Wrestler) whom he had a strained relationship. He claims to have suffered sexual abuse as a child as well as a string of family problems.  According to Jake, his own father told him he would never make it as a Wrestler and was a coward and gutless.  Jake said in a Documentary "Pick Your Poison" that his father then tried to shoot him.  Suffering from the pain of his past as well as the pain of the ring, Jake would rely on Drugs and Alcohol to ease the pain. After leaving what was then WWF (now WWE) Jake's drug abuse became well known as was documented in the movie Beyond the Mat as well as TMZ Videos from Indie Shows. In addition, he was Estranged from Many members of his family especially his own Children. It seemed there was no Hope for the man and he claims he wanted to die. However, one man Diamond Dallas Page lended a hand. DDP was a Huge Wrestling Star in WCW in the late 90's/early 2000s, WCW Champion, and says he owed much of his success on the Advice and Lecturing from Jake the Snake Roberts whom he had lived with. Since retiring from Wrestling, DDP had started his own brand of Yoga DDP Yoga. Jake's health had detiorated to the point that he was almost 300 lbs. and could barely move. DDP reached out to him with his DDP Yoga and invited him to move back in with him in Atlanta. Though it was a rough process, Jake lost 50 lbs. and despite setbacks steered away from the Drugs and the Alcohol that had plagued his life. Along with fellow Wrestler Scott Hall (Razor Ramon), Jake went through a Recovery Process that is documented in the Documentary "The Resurrection of Jake "the Snake" Roberts which won Best Doc at Slam Dance Film Festival and was stated by some as the best documentary of 2015. In early 2014, Jake was chosen as the second inductee into that year's WWE Hall of Fame class behind the late Ultimate Warrior.  However, he discovered he had cancer below his knee.  He went through operations and became cancer free.  He was quoted as saying"If the devil can't defeat me, cancer doesn't stand a chance in hell! Pray for sick children who face this horrible disease 'cause The Snake will be just fine."   Jake was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in April 2014 where he so greatly belongs. In a speech that brought tears to my eyes (I was there at New Orleans Arena), He praised DDP for helping save his life and with members of his family at hand he expressed his love for them and thanks for giving him a second Chance in life.  Another Health Scare happened in August of 2014 when he fell ill on a flight and had to be treated for pneumonia and an abnormality on his brain.  However, he survived and carried on.   Jake "the Snake" Roberts. There will never be another. He Overcame the Odds of Addiction, Deteriorating Health and being Estranged from His Family.  He Also Overcame the Odds of Cancer and Pneumonia!!  Long Live the Snake!!!! 

Resurrection of Jake the Snake is available on Blu-Ray, DVD, Netflix and other outlets
http://www.jakethesnakemovie.com/resurrection-of-jake-the-snake-shop/