On a recent edition of his “The Snake Pit” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts discussed the incident where he ended up in jail with a $200,000 fine for slapping a fan.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On fans trying to fight him: “Yeah, it did happen. And you learn pretty quick, you just don’t go into some bars, you know? Your neighborhood bar is not a place you want to go into because the same guys go there every night. It’s their bar, and they don’t like you walking out there with one of their women either. I will say that that’s usually what happens is some woman, ‘Oh my gosh, he’s on television all the time. Oh my gosh, he’s a star.’ Next thing you know, the guy’s ‘He ain’t s**t, I’ll show you. ‘Now you gotta thump somebody, you know.
“So to be honest with you, man, it didn’t happen to me that often simply because I went into the right places. When I say the right places, what I’m talking about is going into a place that has a lot of security. See, your neighborhood bar does not have any security. You know, TGI Fridays does not have security. But the landing strip does.”
On why wrestlers go to gentlemen’s clubs: “Believe it or not — and my wife doesn’t believe it — that was one of the bigger reasons that we picked those places, is because we knew there were security. We could go in there and drink, and not have a bunch of people f**king with us. Because if you got somebody messing with you in a t**ty bar, then you know, you got a real problem. [You’re looking for a] place to drink and to have some decent music, and that’s it.”
On the cost of having altercations with fans: “That’s the problem. You hit somebody, now you’re gonna have to come back to town to go to court. So that means you have to pay for your airfare, for your hotel, and for your lawyer. You’re $5,000 down before you ever start. So, do you really want to slap this guy?”
On his incident with a fan: “I had one. There was an instance one time where I slapped a guy. And the next thing I know man, I’m sitting in f**king jail and I may not get out. Wound up costing me close to $200,000… And the son of a b**ch sent me a thank you note. You can get hurt, you can get stabbed really easy. And there’s just no — it’s a no-win situation.”
WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts recently shared a story on his podcast, “The Snake Pit,” about an incident where he ended up in jail and faced a hefty fine of $200,000 for slapping a fan. Roberts discussed the challenges of dealing with fans who try to fight him and the precautions he took to avoid such situations.
According to Roberts, encounters with fans looking for trouble were not uncommon. He emphasized the importance of being cautious about the places he visited, particularly local bars where regular patrons might take offense to someone being with one of their women. Roberts explained that women often approached him due to his television fame, which sometimes led to confrontations with jealous men.
To avoid such altercations, Roberts made a point of going to establishments with adequate security. He mentioned gentlemen’s clubs as one of the preferred locations for wrestlers because they typically had security personnel. By choosing these venues, wrestlers could enjoy a drink without being bothered by people seeking trouble.
Roberts also highlighted the financial consequences of getting into fights with fans. He explained that if a wrestler hit someone, they would have to return to the town where the incident occurred for court proceedings. This meant paying for airfare, accommodation, and legal representation, which could easily amount to $5,000 or more. Considering the expenses involved, Roberts questioned whether it was worth slapping someone in such situations.
The WWE Hall of Famer shared a personal experience where he slapped a fan and ended up in jail. The incident cost him close to $200,000 and put him at risk of serious harm. Roberts emphasized that physical altercations with fans were a no-win situation, as they could result in severe injuries or even death.
In conclusion, Jake Roberts’ recent podcast episode shed light on the challenges wrestlers face when dealing with fans who provoke confrontations. He emphasized the importance of choosing safe venues with security and highlighted the financial and personal risks involved in physical altercations. This story serves as a reminder of the complexities and potential dangers that come with being a public figure in the world of professional wrestling.