On a recent edition of his “The Snake Pit” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts recalled Vince McMahon publicly admitting that wrestling was fake to take away from the authority of the state athletic commission.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On Vince McMahon’s admission: “Oh, I remember hearing it, man. And we’re all like, ‘Are you f**king kidding me?’ You know, when you look at it, you say, ‘Wait a minute. You’re doing this so you don’t have to have a doctor at ringside.’ Well, that’s not f**king good. You know, but the sad thing was those doctors, they had half of the word doctors; they were f**king veterinarians, wannabe doctors. Maybe they’d worked in the bathroom ambulance at one time. Things like that. They got paid a pretty good chunk of change, too.”
On it not being a bad thing for there to be doctors at the event: “No, it’d be a great thing, man. You know, that’s one thing I like about AEW, is they have a doctor present. And they take care of you, man. If somebody’s hurting, they got a chiropractor there waiting to adjust them. They’ve got a doctor there waiting to tell him what to do and where to go. So they check people out, you get to be cleared by the doctors to get back into the ring after a concussion or something. Or any type of injury, they make you go through hoops before you can get back in that room. Because lots of times, it’s — the doctor’s job to protect the athlete from himself. Because guys want to get back out there sometimes before they’re ready, you know? And that’s a shame. Yeah, I get it. I get why we do it. But it’s wrong. So AEW is doing it right.”
In a recent episode of his podcast, “The Snake Pit,” WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts discussed an interesting revelation made by Vince McMahon. According to Roberts, McMahon publicly admitted that wrestling was fake in order to undermine the authority of the state athletic commission.
McMahon’s motive behind this admission was to avoid the requirement of having a doctor present at ringside during wrestling events. Roberts expressed his disbelief at this decision, stating, “You’re doing this so you don’t have to have a doctor at ringside. Well, that’s not f**king good.” He further criticized the quality of the doctors who were present at the time, claiming that they were often veterinarians or individuals with minimal medical training.
Roberts contrasted this situation with the current practices of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he praised the presence of a doctor at their events. He highlighted the fact that AEW takes the well-being of their wrestlers seriously by having a chiropractor and a doctor on-site. These medical professionals assess and treat injuries, ensuring that wrestlers are cleared before returning to the ring. Roberts emphasized the importance of protecting athletes from themselves, as many wrestlers have a strong desire to return to action before they are fully healed.
The podcast episode also included a link to a video featuring Roberts discussing WrestleMania 5. The video provides additional context and insights into the wrestling industry.
This revelation by Vince McMahon sheds light on the historical practices within professional wrestling and the lack of medical oversight during events. While McMahon’s decision may have been driven by practical concerns at the time, it raises questions about the well-being and safety of wrestlers.
Fortunately, the landscape has evolved, and organizations like AEW prioritize the health and safety of their performers. By having qualified medical professionals on-site, AEW sets a positive example for the industry and demonstrates a commitment to the well-being of their wrestlers.
In conclusion, Jake Roberts’ recollection of Vince McMahon’s admission regarding the fakeness of wrestling highlights the historical lack of medical oversight in the industry. However, it also serves as a reminder of the progress made in recent years, with organizations like AEW prioritizing the health and safety of their wrestlers.