Aurelian Smith Jr., better known by his ring name Jake "The Snake" Roberts, is a renowned American professional wrestler and actor currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW),where he serves as a manager to the formidable Lance Archer.
Roberts is widely recognized for his two distinguished stints with the World Wrestling Federation (later rebranded as WWE),spanning from 1986 to 1992 and then again from 1996 to 1997. Prior to that, he competed in the National Wrestling Alliance in 1983, World Championship Wrestling in 1992, and the Mexico-based Asistencia Asesoría y Administración from 1993 to 1994 and once more in 1997. Additionally, he made appearances for Extreme Championship Wrestling during the summer of 1997 and worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling from 2006 through 2008.
Throughout his illustrious career, Roberts was revered for his intense and cerebral promos, dark charisma, and innovative approach to match psychology. He was also known for his groundbreaking use of the DDT finishing move, which was later dubbed the "coolest" maneuver of all time by WWE. A signature aspect of his in-ring persona was the incorporation of snakes, most notably a python, which often accompanied him to the ring.
Roberts' personal struggles with addiction were well-documented, and he was the subject of the 1999 documentary film Beyond the Mat. In 2012, he sought help and moved in with fellow wrestler Diamond Dallas Page to turn his life around. His journey was chronicled in the 2015 documentary The Resurrection of Jake the Snake.
Roberts has been honored with several accolades, including his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 5, 2014, and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2020.
