Meet Jake the Snake This Weekend in Huntington

This Saturday and Sunday, August 10-11, the Huntington Toy & Comic Convention will take place at the Marshall Health Network Arena in Huntington, WV. Admission tickets and VIP packages are available online.

One of the guests is WWE Hall of Famer Jake “The Snake” Roberts.

Jake "The Snake" Roberts, born Aurelian Smith Jr., is a legendary retired professional wrestler and actor, best known for his time in the WWE.

Jake Roberts was born on May 30, 1955, in Gainesville, Texas, into a wrestling family. His father, Aurelian “Grizzly” Smith, was also a wrestler. Roberts wrestled in various promotions, including the National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling, and Mexico's Asistencia Asesoría y Administración. He became famous for his intense promos, dark charisma, and psychological approach to matches. Roberts is credited with popularizing the DDT finishing move, which WWE named the “coolest” maneuver of all time. He often brought snakes into the ring, most notably a python.

In 2012, Roberts sought help for his alcohol and drug addiction by moving in with fellow wrestler Diamond Dallas Page. His recovery journey was documented in the 2015 film “The Resurrection of Jake the Snake.” He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2020.

Jake Roberts is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as a manager for Lance Archer and serves as an advisor for AEW’s community outreach program, AEW Together. He also holds a Legends contract with WWE.

For more about his life, watch the "Biography: WWE Legends" episode on Jake “The Snake” Roberts. Additionally, various documentaries and interviews offer further insights into his remarkable career.