Aurelian Smith, Jr.

Aurelian Smith, Jr. better known by his stage name of Jake "The Snake" Roberts, was a notorious heel in the WWF in the 1980s and 1990s. He was known for his spellbinding promos, his use of psychology in his matches and inventing the DDT maneuver. But in what must be the most unusual gimmick in WWF history, to which he owed his name, Roberts would bring a huge, live python to ringside; after stunning his opponent (usually a jobber) he would coil the constrictor around the opponent's neck, which would proceed to strangle the fellow senseless. It was a masterly show of kayfabe, as the wrestler lay flailing and foaming at the mouth with this monstrous snake squeezing the life out of him.

Related Topics:
Stage name - Heel - WWF - 1980s - 1990s - Promos - DDT - Gimmick - Python - Jobber - Kayfabe

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Roberts would later become a face, engaging in a long feud with André the Giant and using his snake to gain a psychological edge over the ophidiophobic André, nullifying the Giant's size advantage.

Related Topics:
Face - André the Giant

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