Jake "The Snake" Roberts And Hacksaw Jim Duggan

About Jake "The Snake" Roberts: Menacing, intimidating and totally hypnotic in the ring, Jake “The Snake” Roberts was a Superstar capable of taking you down physically as well as psychologically. Slithering to the ring with a monstrous python concealed in a burlap sack, Jake used fear as a weapon as deftly as he used pain. His DDT finishing move is still one of the most brutal finishers ever unleashed on a Superstar. The son of noted grappler Grizzly Smith, Roberts was born into a sports-entertainment family. Eager to follow in his father’s footsteps, Roberts began competing in the early ’70s, making a name for himself in promotions throughout the South. In 1983, he tasted success for the first time, winning the NWA World Television Championship while wrestling with Georgia Championship Wrestling. Roberts then took his talent, and his patented DDT finisher to the pinnacle of entertainment, WWE, arriving at the promotion in 1986. Right out of the gate, the Snake sought to make a name for himself, targeting fan favorite Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat. He made his intentions known when he savagely DDT’d Steamboat onto a concrete floor, putting him in the hospital for weeks. As if that wasn’t enough to curry hatred from the WWE Universe, Roberts stirred the pot further each week, hosting his show, The Snake Pit. A talk segment in the vein of Piper’s Pit, Roberts’s show was the perfect forum for him to rile both Superstars and fans alike with his twisted point of view. As time wore on, Roberts soon became a fan favorite, thanks in part to his memorable rivalries with the Honky Tonk Man, the Million Dollar Man and Andre the Giant. WWE Universe fans from that generation will never forget the Giant’s paralyzing fear of Jake’s pet python, Damien. In the early 90s, after a series of bizarre skirmishes with the likes of Earthquake and Randy Savage, and Rick “The Model” Martel, with whom he faced off against in a Blindfold Match at WrestleMania VII. In 1992, after six extraordinary years, Roberts and WWE parted company and the Snake spent four years competing in WCW and other smaller promotions. Four years later, he returned to WWE and faced Stone Cold at the 1996 King of the Ring. Roberts came up short in the bout, but had a role in the creation of WWE history, when Stone Cold mocked Roberts’s perpetual quoting of the Bible verse “John 3:16,” by barking “Austin 3:16 says ‘I just whooped you’re a$$!’” In that moment, a catchphrase was born and a legend was launched. Following that historic event, Jake’s appearances in WWE have been sporadic but memorable, such as a 2005 appearance on Raw when he confronted a young Randy Orton prior to the Viper’s WrestleMania match against the Undertaker. Later that year he worked with the company to produce the tell-all DVD Pick Your Poison, which offered a no-holds-barred look at his tumultuous career. Whether competing in the ring, or burrowing into the psyches of his opponents, Jake “The Snake” Roberts will go down in the annals of WWE history as one of the most cunning and lethal Superstars ever to step between the ropes. About Jim Duggan: A true red-blooded American, the tough, but lovable big guy always marched to the ring with a 2x4 slung over his shoulder and a red, white and blue flag gripped tightly in his hand. Often going up against underhanded foreign villains, Duggan would always get the crowd behind him by inspiring massive chants of "U.S.A.! U.S.A.!" that would shake the rafters and intimidate his opponents. For more than two decades, "Hacksaw" defended America's honor in the ring and enjoyed distinction as one of the most recognizable Superstars in the world. Born James Stuart Duggan on January 23, 1953, he began wrestling while he was in high school. An avid sports enthusiast, he engaged in football, track, wrestling and basketball. He then entered Southern Methodist University, where he pursued his passion for wrestling. It was also in the University that Duggan met wrestler Fritz Von Erich, who introduced him to professional wrestling. Duggan then trained at the Sportatorium in Dallas, Texas and with Samoan wrestling promoter Peter Maivia, who was The Rock's grandfather. Duggan professionally debuted in Mid-South Wrestling, where he soon became a crowd favorite. He then began a feud with "Hacksaw" Butch Reed, and the two competed over who would be the true "Hacksaw." He later won the Mid-South Tag Team Championship with Magnum T.A. and the Mid-South North American Championship. Later, together with Terry Taylor, Duggan won the UWF Tag Team Championship. Joining the WWF in 1987, Duggan made his first appearance on WrestleMania III. Among his opponents during his stay were Harley Race, Haku, André the Giant and Randy Savage. In 1994, Duggan signed with the World Championship Wrestling (WCW), were he won the WCW United States Championship from Steve Austin in less than one minute. Four years later, he was diagnosed with kidney cancer, an illness that he successfully survived. Duggan came back to WWE in October 2005's Homecoming. He also appeared in WWE's Royal Rumble 2006 and later became part of Heat. He moved to the Raw franchise in Dating Game, but lost when Maria chose Ron Simmons. Duggan has made sporadic appearances in WWE over the last few years, but his popularity has never waned. Still carrying his 2x4 and waving Old Glory proudly, "Hacksaw" is a bona fide legend in the ring and truly deserving of his spot in WWE's Hall of Fame class of 2011.