On a recent edition of his “The Snake Pit” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts discussed Harley’s Race’s departure from WWE in the 1980s, the grueling travel schedule, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On the brutal WWE travel schedule: “It was brutal, man. I mean, you woke up in a different city every day, man. You know, the first thing you did when you woke up was get your a** to the airport, then you’d fly somewhere. And I swear to God, I think they did the booking [through] the dartboard. Just, you know, San Diego to Miami; Miami to Portland, Oregon; Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine; Portland, Maine is Houston. You know, what the f**k, man?”
On Harley Race exiting WWE in the 1980s due to the travel schedule: “I don’t think that part was tough for him. I think that, just the travel got to him. Because he wasn’t used to working seven days a week. He worked seven days a week, twice on Saturday, twice on Sunday. And that’s what got Harley. He’d go into a territory and work two or three dates in that territory, so there wasn’t much travel. You drove by car, it was easy. Easy peasy.”
On his relationship with Race at this time: “I bumped into him, We talked a little bit. That’s about it.”
On whether he liked Race’s views on wrestling: “Yeah, he spoke up a few times. But it was sad too, you know, because you look at a guy that went out there and really did the tough work, you know? Ninety minute matches, 60 minute matches every night, and really did the groundwork. And you look at it, here he’s done that his whole life. And now all of a sudden, he’s jet airplaning around and doing half the work in the ring. But the hardest part was the travel. That is why what hurt you, was the constant travel.”
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The life of a professional wrestler is often glamorized, with fans seeing the athletes performing in the ring and entertaining the crowds. However, behind the scenes, there is a grueling travel schedule that can take a toll on the wrestlers. WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts recently discussed this aspect of the industry on his podcast, shedding light on the challenges faced by wrestlers like himself and Harley Race.
Roberts described the WWE travel schedule as brutal, with wrestlers waking up in a different city every day. The first thing they had to do was rush to the airport and fly to their next destination. He humorously mentioned that it seemed like the booking was done through a dartboard, as wrestlers would go from San Diego to Miami, then to Portland, Oregon, and finally to Portland, Maine. The constant travel and lack of stability can be physically and mentally exhausting for the wrestlers.
One wrestler who struggled with the WWE travel schedule was Harley Race. Roberts explained that Race wasn’t used to working seven days a week, twice on Saturdays and Sundays. In the territories where Race had previously worked, he would only have to travel short distances between dates. This made it easier for him to manage his schedule and recover from the physical demands of wrestling. However, the constant travel in WWE took a toll on Race, leading to his departure from the company in the 1980s.
Despite their shared experiences in the wrestling industry, Roberts revealed that he didn’t have a close relationship with Race during this time. They would occasionally bump into each other and have brief conversations, but their interactions were limited. However, Roberts acknowledged Race’s contributions to wrestling and respected his work ethic. Race was known for his grueling matches that lasted 90 minutes or more, showcasing his dedication and toughness. It was disheartening for Roberts to see Race transition from that intense style of wrestling to a more relaxed schedule with less in-ring work. The constant travel was the most challenging aspect for Race, as it took a toll on his body and overall well-being.
The podcast episode also included a link to a video of Roberts discussing the Royal Rumble event in 1989. Fans can watch the video to gain further insights into the wrestling industry and the experiences of wrestlers like Roberts and Race.
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In conclusion, the life of a professional wrestler is not all glitz and glamour. Behind the scenes, wrestlers face a grueling travel schedule that can take a toll on their physical and mental well-being. Jake Roberts’ podcast episode shed light on this aspect of the industry, discussing Harley Race’s departure from WWE due to the demanding travel schedule. It is important for fans to understand and appreciate the sacrifices made by wrestlers to entertain them in the ring.