In the latest episode of his podcast “The Snake Pit”, WWE Hall of Fame inductee Jake Roberts gave his perspectives on working with Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, the hard wrestling rings in WWE, and other intriguing matters.
Here are a few noteworthy excerpts from his podcast session:
Narrating what made Ricky Steamboat an extraordinary worker and fan-favorite, he added, “The brilliance lies in the act of selling. He was supreme at it, rivalled only perhaps by the likes of Ricky Morton in selling…He possessed all qualities a champion should, and he knitted them together excellently. What stood out was his natural tan, impressive physique and the ability to keep going as required. He was simply a reliable and exceptional performer.”
When asked about his experience with the hard wrestling rings in WWE, he quoted, “[Vince suggested back then] ‘go ahead, make them extremely hard, man.’ [On experiencing the first fall in the ring, I thought] ‘Oh, heck, here we go.’ Yes, I’ve been in hardened rings before, but nothing comes close to WWE’s rings. They were incredibly stiff. There was a running joke amongst us, ‘Take a fall on the outside. The concrete is softer.'”
The entire podcast titled “The Snake Pit Ep. 93: The Summer of ’86” can be seen below for a detailed view of the discussed topics: