Jake Roberts Reflects on the Practice of Blading During the AIDS Epidemic in the 1980s

Jake Roberts Reflects on the Practice of Blading During the AIDS Epidemic in the 1980s
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On a recent edition of his “The Snake Pit” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts discussed his stint in Mid-South Wrestling during August and September 1985.

You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:

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On wrestling in the Superdome and the importance of it to the Bill Watts territory: “Oh, it was the satellite, man. Because you can see everything from the Superdome. The Superdome is the building in the South. It has been for year since they opened it. You know, so to be the main event there was quite an honor. And quite a responsibility also.”

On blading during the spread of AIDS in the 1980s: “You never did that around Watts. It was his call [whether you could get bloody or not]. They can’t say sh*t, they know Watts… I knew I was clean. You know, by luck. [laughs] By extreme luck and God watching over me, somehow I escaped that. But it was real, it was real. Guys were cognizant of it. And unfortunately, I don’t think it stopped anybody. They were all still dipping their wicks and, yeah… Yeah, it really is [a wonder more people didn’t get sick] man, because those mats were filthy. I had staph a couple of times. Man, that’s rough. I got it in my elbow.”

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Jake Roberts, WWE Hall of Famer, recently discussed his time in Mid-South Wrestling during August and September 1985 on his podcast, “The Snake Pit.” In this episode, Roberts shared some interesting insights and stories from that period.

One of the highlights of his time in Mid-South Wrestling was wrestling in the Superdome. Roberts emphasized the significance of this venue to the Bill Watts territory, stating, “Oh, it was the satellite, man. Because you can see everything from the Superdome. The Superdome is the building in the South. It has been for years since they opened it. You know, so to be the main event there was quite an honor. And quite a responsibility also.” The Superdome held a special place in the hearts of wrestling fans, and being able to perform there was a significant achievement for any wrestler.

During the podcast, Roberts also touched upon the practice of blading, which involved intentionally cutting oneself to draw blood during a match. This practice was prevalent in professional wrestling during the 1980s. However, Roberts mentioned that Bill Watts had strict control over whether wrestlers could engage in blading or not. He stated, “You never did that around Watts. It was his call [whether you could get bloody or not]. They can’t say sh*t, they know Watts… I knew I was clean. You know, by luck. [laughs] By extreme luck and God watching over me, somehow I escaped that.”

Roberts also acknowledged the spread of AIDS during the 1980s and how it affected the wrestling industry. He mentioned that despite the awareness of the disease, many wrestlers continued to engage in risky behavior. He said, “Yeah… Yeah, it really is [a wonder more people didn’t get sick] man because those mats were filthy. I had staph a couple of times. Man, that’s rough. I got it in my elbow.” Roberts’ comments shed light on the challenges wrestlers faced during that era and the potential health risks they encountered.

To provide further context and visual content, the podcast episode included an embedded video titled “The Snake Pit Ep. 43: Mid-South Wrestling, Aug. & Sept. 1985.” This video allows fans to delve deeper into the specific details and moments discussed by Roberts during the podcast.

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In conclusion, Jake Roberts’ recent podcast episode offered a fascinating glimpse into his time in Mid-South Wrestling during August and September 1985. From wrestling in the iconic Superdome to discussing the practice of blading and the impact of AIDS on the industry, Roberts shared valuable insights and personal experiences. Wrestling fans can explore these topics further by watching the embedded video and staying connected with eWrestlingNews.com for the latest updates.