In recent years ‘Strong Style’ has become increasingly popular in North American wrestling, not that Jake Roberts is happy about it.
The style originated in Japan and incorporates aspects of Japanese wrestling, traditional British wrestling, and aspects of a brawling North American style. The general idea is to make matches look as realistic as possible, and as a result, matches wrestled in this way tend to be incredibly hard-hitting.
As the wrestling world has gotten smaller and ‘Strong Style’ has grown more popular, it has become a regular fixture in the biggest promotions on the planet.
However, speaking on his Snake Pit podcast, Jake Roberts has claimed that the whole thing is unnecessary. Roberts believes that seeing as fans already know that wrestling is a ‘work,’ wrestlers legitimately hitting each other as hard as possible seems pointless.
“For those who like it, go ahead, beat the s**t out of each other. You know, there’s no need for it. The fans already know it’s a work, so why are you beating the f**k out of each other? Because you can? You want to show somebody how tough you are? If you want to show somebody how tough you are, go out on the street corner somewhere and pick a fight. You’ll be alright. Don’t put me through it.”
Roberts went on to implore performers to “make it exciting.”
“I’d much rather have a match where two guys are trying to perform and give me their very best, you know what I’m saying? Make it exciting,”
Jake Roberts Hits Out At Vince McMahon
During the episode, Roberts also discussed his return to WWE in 1996. During this short spell with the company, Roberts lost to Steve Austin at King of the ring before he delivered THAT promo, and feuded with Jerry Lawler. Roberts’ rivalry with Lawler was particularly controversial as the announcer poured whiskey on his face, despite Roberts struggling to overcome alcoholism at the time.
Speaking elsewhere on his podcast, Roberts claimed that the storyline was Vince McMahon’s way of getting back at him for leaving the company in 1992.
H/t to Wrestling Inc