WWE Hall Of Famer Jake Roberts Explains Why He Left To Join A New Promotion

WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts discussed a key decision from early in his wrestling career that not only impacted his own trajectory but also helped reignite the career of another legendary figure, Junkyard Dog.

On his podcast, “The Snake Pit”, Jake Roberts reflected on his move from Stampede Wrestling to Mid-South Wrestling in the late 1970s, a decision driven by both personal and professional motivations. At the time, Roberts was seeking an opportunity to continue growing in the industry, while also leveraging his family’s connections.

Well, familiarity. My father was there, and I knew that I could learn a lot there, and that’s kind of what I was wanting to do, was to keep learning. I knew that I would learn in Mid-South. So I put a call in, and got the green light and off to Mid-South I went.

This move proved pivotal not only for Roberts but also for fellow Hall of Famer Junkyard Dog. Once settled into Mid-South Wrestling, Roberts played a significant role in bringing Junkyard Dog into the promotion. The two had crossed paths before, and Roberts saw potential in JYD’s reformed act.

Once I got there I told him [Bill Watts] about JYD, that he had gotten his act together and was a piece of talent they should be interested in. And it didn’t take long before JYD was there.

Junkyard Dog would go on to become one of the biggest stars in Mid-South Wrestling, cementing his legacy in the business.

How Stiff Did Jake Roberts Say The Early WWE Rings Were?

Jake Roberts recalled just how stiff the early WWE rings were and how Vince McMahon personally requested that the rings be as stiff as possible. He remembered how he and the other wrestlers used to joke about how they would rather take bumps on concrete rather than in the ring.

H/t to ITRWrestling.com