Jake Roberts revealed why a planned headline-level program between himself and Hulk Hogan was abruptly cancelled, not because of a bad match, but because the crowd reaction backfired on WWE’s plans.
Jake Roberts explained, in a 2023 interview with WrestlingNewsCo, that the controversy began with a “Snake Pit” segment filmed in Tucson, Arizona, where he delivered his finishing move, the DDT, on Hogan. The segment was meant to set up Hogan as the sympathetic babyface, but instead the audience unexpectedly cheered Roberts, chanting “DDT! DDT!” when Hogan got to his feet.
That reaction alarmed management. As Roberts recalled, Vince McMahon pulled the plug on the feud due to the crowd reaction.
“It was filmed in Tucson, Arizona. And we did it on the snake pit. But the crowd wouldn’t cooperate. Because after I’d DDT’d him, we went back to the back to hear him come up to his feet rip his shirt off, beat his chest, and come looking for Jake The Snake. But the people started chanting DDT, DDT, and Vince said, we can’t have that. So, therefore, it was nixed.”
Though the footage ran in markets like Providence and Montreal, even selling out both shows, the reaction from fans had tilted too far in Roberts’ favour. McMahon and the creative team decided it was better to scrap the programme entirely than push ahead with a storyline where a heel got more heat than the company’s top star.
“We actually showed that in two markets, one market being Providence, Rhode Island, and the other one being in Montreal, and we sold out both places. But the fans were split 50/50. And Vince couldn’t have that.”
Roberts didn’t hide his frustration, admitting that he had seen the booking as a major opportunity, one that vanished because the fans didn’t respond the way WWE expected.
When Was Jake Roberts In WWE?
Jake Roberts had two major runs in WWE. His first and most famous stint lasted from 1986 to 1992, during which he became one of the company’s top villains and later a cult-favourite babyface thanks to his promos, mind-games and the DDT. This run featured notable feuds with Randy Savage, Ted DiBiase and Rick Rude.
Roberts returned for a second run in 1996–1997, working a redemption-themed character and competing in tournaments like the King of the Ring before departing again. Although he made later cameo appearances, these two periods mark his primary years as an active WWE performer.
