On a recent edition of his “The Snake Pit” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts discussed working with Rocky Johnson in Mid-South Wrestling, Ivan Kolov’s in-ring talent, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On Rocky Johnson’s in-ring work: “It lacked… He was a cartoon guy. You know, he didn’t want to get in there and grind it out. He just wanted to get in there and play. He’s out there being flashy, and being corny, and being funny. No [it’s not my thing]. Definitely not.”
On teaming with Johnson: “We made the best of it. You know, I went and did the hard work, and I tag him. And he’d get in there and f**k it all up… just f**k it up, man. Turn turn it into a goddamn cartoon.”
On what he thought of Johnson personally: “It was all very superficial. You know, he was one of the boys. But yeah, he was very superficial. You never got to know him.”
On Ivan Kolov: “F**king machine. Oh, God, yeah. He blew you up so fast, man. Oh my God, it was horrible. I remember thinking I was gonna die. He just kept coming, I could not get him off of me. And I was bumping the s**t out of him man, but he was right back on me. He was crazy. It was crazy how fast he was.”
In a recent episode of his podcast “The Snake Pit,” WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts shared his thoughts on working with Rocky Johnson in Mid-South Wrestling and Ivan Kolov’s in-ring talent. Let’s take a closer look at some of the highlights from the podcast.
When discussing Rocky Johnson’s in-ring work, Roberts expressed his belief that it lacked substance. According to Roberts, Johnson was more interested in being flashy and entertaining rather than putting in the hard work and grinding it out in the ring. Roberts described Johnson as a “cartoon guy” who didn’t align with his own wrestling style.
Despite their differences, Roberts acknowledged that they made the best of their partnership. Roberts would do the heavy lifting and then tag Johnson, only to have him mess things up and turn it into a cartoon-like spectacle. This suggests that their teamwork wasn’t always smooth, but they managed to work together to some extent.
Roberts also shared his thoughts on Johnson as a person. He described their relationship as superficial, stating that he never really got to know Johnson beyond their professional interactions. While Johnson may have been one of the boys in the wrestling industry, Roberts felt that there was a lack of depth in their connection.
Switching gears, Roberts praised Ivan Kolov’s in-ring talent. He referred to Kolov as a “f**king machine” and recalled how Kolov would quickly wear him out during their matches. Despite Roberts’ efforts to bump and attack Kolov, the Russian wrestler would always come back at him relentlessly. Roberts described the experience as crazy and intense, highlighting Kolov’s incredible speed and stamina.
The podcast episode also includes an embedded video featuring Mid-Atlantic Wrestling from November 1981. The video provides additional context and visuals for listeners to better understand the topics discussed.
Overall, Jake Roberts’ insights offer a glimpse into his experiences working with Rocky Johnson and Ivan Kolov. While he may not have had the best chemistry with Johnson, Roberts recognized Kolov’s exceptional in-ring abilities. Wrestling fans and enthusiasts can gain valuable insights from Roberts’ perspective on these wrestling legends.