WWE Hall Of Famer Jake Roberts Reflects On The Dangers Of Chair Shots In Wrestling

WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts spoke about the dangers of unprotected chair shots to the head, a once-common practice in professional wrestling that has since been largely abandoned.

During an episode of his podcast, The Snake Pit, Jake Roberts shared his experiences with the brutal impacts he endured throughout his career. He recalled one particularly devastating blow that left him unconscious for two days. Unlike some wrestlers of his time who would attempt to shield themselves by raising their hands, Roberts admitted that he never took such precautions.

“I took it on the head,”

he stated, highlighting his willingness to absorb the full force of the strikes. The wrestling legend detailed the toll these impacts had on him, describing how some chair shots were so severe that they left him in a daze for extended periods.

“I’ve taken some that made me wake up two days later,”

Roberts revealed, offering insight into the long-term effects of the dangerous practice. Reflecting on some of the hardest chair shots he endured, Roberts pointed to a specific wrestler known for his power and toughness.

“One Man Gang got me, he’s a bit of a bruiser.”

Unprotected chair shots to the head were once a staple of the industry, but as awareness of CTE has grown, wrestling organisations have moved to eliminate the practice. Today, major promotions like WWE have banned direct chair shots to the head in an effort to protect their performers from severe and lasting neurological damage.

Which Wrestling Skill Does Jake Roberts Believe Is More Important Than Character Work?

Jake Roberts spoke about the different tools wrestlers need to master to become good workers and said that in-ring ability and psychology are more important skills to master rather than character work. This may come as a shock to many as Roberts is known for his masterful character work so for him to say this skill isn’t as important is surprising.

H/t to ITRWrestling.com