Former WWE star says Jake Roberts was drunk during their match
Marty Garner, also known as Cham-Pain, recently recalled his experience working with Jake Roberts in WWE.
On the October 20, 1996, episode of WWE Superstars, Roberts defeated Garner in a match lasting almost three minutes. Following the one-sided contest, the Hall of Famer placed his pet snake over Garner in the middle of the ring.
It is well known that Roberts suffered from alcohol addiction at times during his wrestling career. On the Cheap Heat Productions Podcast, Garner claimed that his opponent was intoxicated on the day of their match:
"They let it slide for years with Jake, I believe. I've heard so many stories about him being drunk in the ring with somebody else. I guess they just wanted to keep him around so didn't say anything. As long as he wasn't hurting anybody. If I'd have had a longer match, he'd have probably hurt me because he was really physical and careless that night. And he would tell you the same thing right now, I'm sure." [27:50 – 28:16]
With the help of fellow wrestling legend Diamond Dallas Page (DDP), Jake Roberts began turning his life around in the early 2010s. His battle with alcoholism was the subject of a popular documentary, The Resurrection of Jake the Snake.
What happened when Jake Roberts faced Marty Garner?
The short match featured a spot where Marty Garner fell from the top rope into the ring after an altercation in the corner with Jake Roberts.
Due to his opponent's physical state, Garner believes many of the moments in the match lacked logic:
"It was careless. He had my feet on the top rope and I'm facing the mat. He had my head underneath his arm and he just lets me go, and I fall from the top rope into the ring like that. I'm like, 'Dude, that was really crazy.'" [26:32 – 26:47]
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Garner also recalled how he and Roberts barely spoke to each other before meeting in the ring later that night:
"He was pretty stiff. He wouldn't even talk to me before the match. He said, 'All right, easy night, kid. Short-arm clothesline, DDT, snake.' That's all he told me, and I'm like, 'Yes, sir.'" [27:14 – 27:26]
In the same interview, Garner revealed the truth about speculation that he tried to sue WWE over a botched Pedigree he once received from Triple H.
What are your thoughts on Jake Roberts? Let us know in the comments section below.
Please credit the Cheap Heat Productions Podcast and give a H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.