On a recent edition of his “The Snake Pit” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts recalled his memories of working with Greg Valentine in 1981.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On why wrestling Valentine was so important for him: “It was really important to me to go after and have a great match with Greg. And we did. We went out and did about 20 to 25 minutes, and we got our s**t in. You know, and I showed them that I could carry it. Because I hated tag teams.”
On Valentine being rough to work with: “He was a stiffy out there. It’s like, he’d drop that elbow on them. That was his big thing, right? Yeah. He didn’t hit you with the elbow, he hits you with his whole f**king lat. He crushed the f**king chest, man, he’d knock not there out of you. He didn’t mind taking it. He was willing to take one back. I know, because I have him a bunch of them.”
On Valentine’s in-ring style: “He’s very slow. He’s very, just grind it out. Take you right to the edge and pull you back in, man. And you know, it’s very solid, it was very believable. And everything meant something.”
On why he went to karate pants from traditional trunks: “I just liked them better, man. Like, I’ve always had skinny legs, so I was tired of it.”
In a recent episode of his podcast, “The Snake Pit,” WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts shared his memories of working with Greg Valentine in 1981. Roberts highlighted the importance of wrestling Valentine and discussed his in-ring style and unique approach.
For Roberts, it was crucial to have a great match with Valentine. He wanted to prove himself and show that he could carry the match. Roberts admitted that he disliked tag teams, so working with Valentine individually allowed him to showcase his abilities. The match lasted around 20 to 25 minutes, and both wrestlers gave their all.
One notable aspect of Valentine’s style was his roughness in the ring. Roberts described him as a “stiffy,” meaning he was intense and powerful. Valentine’s signature move was dropping his elbow on opponents, but it wasn’t just a regular elbow drop. He hit with his entire lat muscle, crushing the chest and leaving a lasting impact. However, Roberts acknowledged that Valentine was willing to take hits as well, as he gave him a fair share of punishment during their matches.
Valentine’s in-ring style was characterized by its slow and methodical nature. He would grind out the match, taking the audience right to the edge before pulling them back in. This approach made every move and action meaningful and believable. Valentine’s solid wrestling skills and storytelling ability added depth to his matches.
Interestingly, Roberts also shared why he transitioned from traditional trunks to karate pants. He simply preferred the look of karate pants and wanted a change from his skinny legs being exposed in trunks. This decision allowed him to feel more comfortable and confident in the ring.
The podcast episode provides fans with a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of wrestling in the early 1980s. It showcases the dedication and passion of both Jake Roberts and Greg Valentine, highlighting their commitment to delivering memorable matches. The chemistry between the two wrestlers and their unique styles made their encounters exciting and impactful for the audience.
For those interested in diving deeper into this topic, the podcast episode is available for viewing, allowing fans to hear Roberts’ firsthand account of his experiences working with Valentine. It serves as a valuable resource for wrestling enthusiasts and offers a nostalgic trip back to the early days of professional wrestling.