WWE legend says he will never wrestle again
It is not uncommon for WWE legends to reverse retirement decisions several years after their final match. In Jake Roberts' case, the wrestling icon is adamant that he will never lace up his boots again.
Roberts is widely viewed as one of the smartest in-ring technicians of all time. The 67-year-old is best known for his WWE spells between 1986-1992 and 1996-1997. In recent years, he has performed as Lance Archer's manager in AEW.
On his podcast, The Snake Pit, Roberts said he is open to using his DDT finisher on somebody one day. However, he does not plan to wrestle in an official match:
"No," Roberts replied when asked about wrestling again. "No, I'm done, guys. I've had a couple of close calls and I gotta take care of this old body. My lungs aren't healthy enough to do it and my body's not either, man. I'm broken up, I'm busted up. Your body can only take too much, and I should have quit probably 10 years before I did if I wanted to keep some of my healthier parts healthy. But, no, my hips won't take it." [22:59 – 23:34]
Roberts has battled many health issues throughout his life, including muscular cancer below his knee. In 2020, the Hall of Famer was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after suffering from a persistent cough. He is currently preparing to undergo surgery on his hip for the third time.
How Jake Roberts' WWE career ended
While some WWE legends receive unforgettable send-offs at the end of their careers, that was not the case for Jake Roberts. The veteran defeated The Goon at an untelevised live event in his last match for the company on March 1, 1997.
Roberts continued wrestling on the independent scene for another two decades. He also appeared in ECW and TNA/IMPACT.
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The current AEW personality was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2014. Earlier that year, he placed a snake on Jon Moxley (fka Dean Ambrose) in a memorable RAW segment.
What are your thoughts on Jake Roberts' career? Let us know in the comments section below.
Please credit The Snake Pit and give a H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.