Former professional wrestler Aurelian "Grizzly" Smith passed away this morning following an illness. Smith wrestled for a number of territories and promotions, including Bill Watt's Mid-South Wrestling and promotions in Texas and Kentucky.
To fans today, Smith would be best known as the father of Jake Roberts, Sam Houston and Rockin' Robin.
A reader who wishes to remain anonymous sent the following report concerning Jake “The Snake” Roberts’ meltdown at last night’s Firestorm Pro Wrestling show in Lakewood, Ohio:
I just wanna let you guys know, wether you report it or not is up to you. But Jake The Snake Roberts appeared at Phantasy Theater in Lakewood, Ohio this last night for Firestorm Pro Wrestling. Video has even surfaced online. He was booked in the main event to face JT Lightning one on one. As soon as me and my friends arrived there everything was ok. Jake was sitting off in the corner at a little table with pictures of himself selling autographs and taking pictures with the fans. As the night progressed though everything went downhill. It was the 2nd to last match involving a match for firestorms world title. Jake had come out, clearly drunk or drugged up, and grabbed the microphone during that match (completely unscripted as everyone could tell by the owner of firestorm coming out and trying to get Jake to go back in the dressing room. ) Jake was on the mic trying to encourage the guys in the ring, then he started swearing. the second to last match ended and it was time for the main event which was Jake vs Jt Lightning. JT came out, followed by Jake The Snake. Jake grabbed the microphone and at first said he came here to do this for the fans, But he didnt feel like we were giving him the same respect hes giving us. He started talking incoherently, it was obvious he was on something. after about 3 minutes of talking he put the mic down and staggered into the ring. JT attacked him to start the match. . Jake didnt sell one shot, he just backed into the corner and it seemed like he was out of it. JT Lightning clearly got pissed and just pushed Jake to the ground and got on top of him to cover him and just end the match within 30 seconds of the start. Jake was trying to kick up. JT pushed his arms down and the ref just did a 3 count to end the match because Jake was in no shape to wrestle a match. Afterwards JT Lightning grabbed the microphone and said along the lines of “I’ve wrestled with drug addicts like Tommie Rich, Jimmy Snuka but you are by far the biggest piece of shit I’ve ever been in the ring with/” JT was literally shooting on Jake. Jake just stood in the ring and flipped JT off. Another Firestorm wrestler J Rocc came in after that match was over and attempted to give the crowd a show by doing an attack on Jake so the fans wouldnt be as pissed off about the main event lasting a whole 30 seconds. Which Jake also curled in the corner and no sold. That made J rocc mad who then tried to actually fight Jake. A wrestler named Ray Rowe came out and was trying to calm J rocc and JT down as Jake just stood in the middle of the ring flipping people off. Jake then proceded to pull his penis out and shake it in front of the whole crowd. Security and Ray Rowe were trying to keep the peace. The fans were asked to leave as the show had ended with this nonsense. Out in the parking lot about 15 minutes Jake apparently wound up fighting somebody backstage and there was concern that the angry wrestlers were going to gang up on him. At one point there was a bunch of the wrestlers and security out back, one screamed “Its going down. ” in which they all ran inside. Im not sure what happened but I can only speculate that it was a fight involving Jake Roberts. Cops arrived after this along with an ambulance. The ambulance didnt take Jake away, but the police stayed and escorted Jake to a truck where he was given a ride from the building.
Jake "The Snake" Roberts has posted a review of this past week's WWE Monday Night Raw on his MySpace page. Here is what he wrote:
Afterbirth, all I can say is won't the murder of Cena hurt the PPV?? What a stinking way to end a decent show. Tonight we've had a DQ, a count out, a girl-boy match, a lost match, an impromptu match, and Noble non-match, no referee. Tonight we had over 33 minutes of wrestling. A fluke? I hope not. Whatever the reason, I thank you. Still would be sweeter with more. Matches still don't get enough time, and that's how you make stars. Giving them time to establish exhibit show-ability and create character. Now let's talk about that freak thing. Better yet, you tell me if you know.
Kevin Eck of the Baltimore Sun interviewed Jake Roberts this week. Jake says he hopes he dies in the ring because he doesn't expect to ever retire from wrestling. "Going out in front of people always feels good. It’s sad that in reality, you cannot go out there and do the same things you could do 25 years ago – and neither do I wish to. I’ll never retire. It’s my passion. I hope to die in that ring." Roberts added that many of his peers died because they gave up on life once their wrestling career was over. "I'm still here because God wants me to be here. I'm still here because Vince McMahon helped me to still be here."
Roberts says he wants to contribute to wrestling on the creative side, but he doesn't think he would be able to hold up over the long-haul with his ideas tweaked by others. "I have a tremendous amount to give yet. How I’m going to give it, I don’t know. Because I’m not sure at this stage of my sobriety if I would be strong enough to accept the changes and the enhancements that they would put on what I write."
