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Jake Roberts Reveals He Has Contracted COVID-19

By TJR Staff • Published 30th December 2021
Jake Roberts takes the mic

Wrestling legend Jake Roberts has revealed that despite staying home from work for several months, he’s still caught COVID-19.

Jake Roberts made his WWE debut in 1986, and his first WrestleMania appearance only a few weeks later, shocking fans by wrapping his prized snake Damien around his opponent’s head.

Roberts interview skills came to the fore in his ‘Snake Pit’ segment which saw him go toe-to-toe on the microphone with some of wrestling’s biggest stars. During his feud with the hated Honky Tonk Man, Roberts become a hero for the first time in the company. The rivalry left a mark on Roberts, however, when a guitar shot from Honky Tonk Man did immeasurable damage to his neck.

Jake Roberts joined The Undertaker in a feud against Ultimate Warrior before moving on to target Randy Savage, which featured a memorable segment that saw Damien bite Savage’s arm.

Roberts was so irate after losing to Savage, that he almost attacked the ‘Macho Man’s wife, Miss Elizabeth, with a steel chair, but was toipped by his former ally The Undertaker. This led to ‘The Snake’ facing ‘The Deadman’ at WrestleMania VIII, where Roberts became the second victim of The Undertaker’s WrestleMania Streak. It was also to be Roberts’ last match in WWE until he returned in 1996.

It was in 1996 that Roberts faced ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin at King of the Ring, with his loss leading to the birth of ‘Austin 3:16’. As he began to struggle with his well-documented drug and alcohol issues, Roberts was released from WWE in February 1997.

Over the following years, Roberts made sporadic returns to WWE, and was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2014 by Diamond Dallas Page.

In March 2020, Roberts made his shocking debut in All Elite Wrestling, targeting Cody Rhodes and claiming he would bring someone to the company to defeat the ‘American Nightmare’. The following week, Roberts revealed that the man in question was former IWGP United States Champion Lance Archer. Archer and Rhodes’ feud lasted until the final of the TNT Title Tournament when Cody beat Archer to become the first TNT Champion.

Now, the Jake Roberts has taken to Twitter to let fans know he has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

“I’ve waited so long. Actually thought I was bulletproof. Yes I’ve gotten Covid-19!!!!!”

“Yes after not going to do my AEW work for nearly 3 months. Tony Kahn knows I’m high risk and has gone above and beyond all expectations trying to keep everyone safe. Pretty sure I got it from family or when I was out shopping.”

We here at TJR Wrestling would like to wish Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts a fast and full recovery.