WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts recently did a Q&A with CantonRep.com ahead of his one man show at the Cleveland Improv on September 27th as part of Roberts’ “Unspoken Word Tour”. Below are some Q&A highlights:
Q. What was it like doing your speaking show for the first time? Were you nervous at all?
A. “Naw man, it was pretty easy. Basically, I just went out there telling road stories and sharing some laughs taking a walk down memory lane. The longer I do it, the more stuff keeps coming up. In the beginning, I barely had enough material to do one show. Now, I’ve got enough to do five shows, because I keep remembering stuff. It’s great. I have a blast doing it.”
Q. Switching gears to your wrestling career, who were some of your favorite guys to work with? And do you have an ultimate match?
A. “I don’t have an ultimate match. I had too many matches that met the mark for different reasons, whether it be with Andre (the Giant), Rick Rude, Macho Man, Ricky Steamboat or Ronnie Garvin. Some of my favorites were with Ronnie Garvin, because they were so solid and so real. It was a pleasure to work with Ronnie. I had so many matches with so many great guys to work with, I was in paradise all the time.”
Q. It seemed like in the late ’80s, wrestling characters were so much more defined and unique than today. What’s your take on the product today and how it compares to WWE’s heyday?
A. “The difference is simple. These guys don’t have the time to learn their craft or to develop their character. You don’t make a character in 15 minutes or six months or a year. Let’s face facts. Nobody’s getting time to learn this stuff. They’re getting put out in the ring expected to perform, and they can’t cut interviews, they can’t even think. That’s the issue.”
Q. Are your ring days over? Do you think there’s room for you in the WWE in some kind of managing or advisory role?
A. “I’m not gonna close the door on it, because I love wrestling so much. I would love to have more input in what’s going on, but I don’t know if that would be the best thing for me. I’m so stuck in my ways, and I’m so hard-edged in believing my way is the only way, and it would probably get me in trouble. The most important thing in my life is my grandchildren and my sobriety and doing this ‘Unspoken Word’ tour. I really enjoy it. I get to meet up with so many people and talk to them and entertain them, and be a part of their lives. I don’t think me going back to the WWE would be a great thing, but I won’t shut the door on it, because I love it so much.”
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
