Jake Roberts recalled being shocked at receiving a phone call informing him he was to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, as he initially believed WWE was calling him for a Royal Rumble appearance, not to induct him into the Hall of Fame.
Speaking to The Undertaker on Six Feet Under, Roberts recalled the moment he received the life-changing phone call from WWE.
“I couldn’t believe it, I was shell-shocked briefly. I thought they were calling me to go into the Royal Rumble, I thought that’s what they wanted.”
At the time, Roberts had been working hard to get back into ring shape. After training with Diamond Dallas Page and regaining his mobility through DDP Yoga, he had dropped 50 to 60 pounds and was feeling confident about a return.
“That was my goal, and I’d lost, I don’t know, 50 or 60 pounds and was feeling pretty snappy. I thought that’s what they were calling for.”
Roberts had wrestled sporadically in 2013 and early 2014, and many fans speculated that he might make a surprise appearance in the 2014 Royal Rumble. However, WWE had different plans, choosing instead to honour his legendary career with an induction into the Hall of Fame.
While he never got the chance to compete in another Rumble, Roberts continued to wrestle on the independent circuit until 2018.
Which Fellow Wrestler Did Jake Roberts Credit With Saving His Life?
Jake Roberts spoke about how he believes Diamond Dallas Page saved his life and said that due to his crippling drug and alcohol addictions if it weren’t for DDP helping to turn his life around then he would likely not be alive today. Roberts said that now the thought of drinking any alcohol makes him feel physically sick and is grateful for all the hard work DDP has put into aiding his recovery.
H/t to TJRWrestling.net