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36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Bio To Date/Not For Younger Viewers However, November 5, 2005
While I don't have any children of my own, this is one WWE DVD you may want to wait until they are about 14 or so because some of the topics discussed are very sensitive and aren't appropriate for younger viewers.
Now, to the DVD itself, Jake "The Snake" Roberts is one guy that I can say that the proverbial "scars of time" have definitely marked him! From his unstable, abusive real life childhood to his rough beginnings in pro wrestling to his rise and fall in WWE and WCW until today!
Things that I most enjoyed was his explanation of how the DDT was invented. Its a really funny story but that hold made him legendary and is very popular today. The only other man that equaled Jake in execution of that move was The Four Horsemen's Arn Anderson, but that's another story.
I also was stunned to learn a few things that I always suspected. First, the incident where he DDT'ed Ricky Steamboat on the concrete! That WASN'T A WORK! In fact, Jake DIDN'T even want to do the stunt because he thought it was too dangerous but Vince and Steamboat convinced him to do it. Sure enough, Jake's worst fears were nearly realized as Steamboat was lucky to escape that incident with just a concussion as he could've been killed! Second, the incident where The Honky Tonk Man hit Jake with his guitar! Turns out the "break away" guitar was accidentally switched with a real accoustic guitar! When HTM hits Jake with it, it barely breaks and you can see that Jake is nearly out from the impact! Third, the feud with Jerry "The King" Lawler. What's shocking here is that real alchohol was used rather than a prop! That was kind of insensitive in my book because Jake was a recovering alcoholic! Why would you use real booze?! There are other shocking facts BUT I'll let you see the DVD for yourself for those things.
I found this bio to be very fair and I liked hearing from the man himself as well as his fellow wrestlers and friends. Also, much like the recent "Self Destruction Of The Ultimate Warrior" DVD, it was great to see the late "Ravishing" Rick Rude again! On a side note, I hope one day the WWE does a bio DVD on him!
While I have not watched all the extras, the ones I have watched are excellent and show that while Jake didn't have the greatest physique, he didn't need to have that because his psychology was so good and the little bit of action he did in the ring made sense even if it wasn't that exciting.
DISC 1 EXTRAS
Matches:
Vs. Ricky Steamboat - This was dubbed a "Snake Pit" match which was another name for a "no rules" bout! This happened on the undercard of THE BIG EVENT and was probably would've been match of the night if not for the big Hulk Hogan/"Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff showdown in the main event!
Vs. The Honky Tonk Man - This was at WrestleMania III and still stands as Roberts most memorable match only because it took place in front of the record setting crowd of 93,173 in the Pontiac Silverdome! SIDENOTE: While this is Roberts' most memorable, his best WrestleMania showdown was at number 6 when he took on Ted DiBiase for the "Million Dollar Belt."
Vs. "Ravishing" Rick Rude - This was the DDT Vs. The Rude Awakening match from MSG. The only stip was that the pinfall could only come after one man applied his finisher! Made for great drama and strategy.
SNAKE BITES
Jake's Relationship with children
How he became "The Snake"
Working With Dynamite Kid
Legion Of Doom (I DID WATCH THIS EXTRA, ITS A HILARIOUS TALE)
"Steamboat Saved My Life" (HIS DISCUSSION OF HOW RICK STEAMBOAT SAVED HIM FROM AN ACCIDENT IN THE RING)
Meeting Dick Ebersol
"Snake" On The Loose
Grizzly Smith
Hogan/Jake Feud (INTERESTING DISCUSSION HERE)
DISC 2
MATCHES
w/Rick Steamboat Vs. Jim Nelson & Mike Miller (Mid-Atlantic 9/9/81)
vs.Ronnie Garvin - World TV Title Match (Georgia 12/3/83)
vs. "Leaping" Lanny Poffo (WWE 3/18/86)
vs. Earthquake (WWE 4/27/91)
The cobra incident with Randy "Macho Man" Savage (11/23/91)
Vs. Sting - Coal Miner's Glove Match (Halloween Havoc 10/25/92)
Vs. Dirty White Boy - Smokey Mountain Title Match (5/7/94)
Vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin - King Of The Ring Final (6/23/96)
Vs. Jerry "The King" Lawler - SummerSlam '96 (8/18/96)
Run-in during Tommy Dreamer Vs. Jerry "The King" Lawler - Hardcore Heaven '97
w/Tommy Dreamer Vs. Justin Credible & Jack Victory - November 2 Remember '98
INTERVIEWS & PROMOS
Vince McMahon interviews Jake on TNT
Rick Rude hits on Cheryl Roberts
Brother Love interviews Jake and Cheryl
Mean Gean Okerland interviews Jake
Promo about threatining Ted DiBiase with snakes prior to their bout at WrestleMania 6
DDT's Brother Love during interview
Interview with Brutus Beefcake
Ultimate Warrior Casket Vignette
Ultimate Warrior Cemetery Vignette
Ultimate Warrior Snake-Filled Room Vignette
Mean Gean interviews Jake prior to WrestleMania 8 with The Undertaker
THE SNAKE PIT
w/Kamala
w/Junkyard Dog
w/Hulk Hogan
Overall, a very good buy!
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
You'll love this...trust me., November 2, 2005
As a fan of the Snake for almost fifteen years (even managing to meet the man himself on two occassions), I've been anxiously awaiting the release of this DVD from the moment it was announced.
Let's first clear the confusion. This is a 2-disc set. FYE is not running a 3-disc edition. You can divide the discs into two parts - documentary and extras (matches, promos, vignettes, etc). WWE DVDs as of late have been of an excellent quality, and "Pick Your Poison" is no exception. As expected, the documentary style, sitdown interview with Jake is amazing. He truly is a master story teller, and his intense eyes and husky voice make every word compelling. The tales of his childhood and personal life are disturbing and often hard to listen to. The emotion in his eyes shows the pain is still there.
Like the recent discs devoted to Undertaker and Road Warriors, there is a huge amount of content in the documentary - breaking into the business, politics, feuds, highs, lows, you name it and it's here.
Sadly, his feuds with Rick Martel and Randy Savage are rushed over...and this is one of my biggest problems with the disc. His feud with Savage and Elizabeth was possibly the highlight of his career. His heel turn doesn't get much attention...no footage from Tuesday in Texas, the infamous moment when he slapped Liz across the face, nor is his SNME match with Savage. Many agree this was his best wrestling match, so it's a shame they didn't include it.
However, as an old fan who always loves the chance to stroll down memory lane and surround himself in the warm fuzzy blanket of nostalgia, there is plenty in these discs to enjoy. Teaching Ultimate Warrior the ways of the dark side (including the betrayal when he delivered Warrior's poisoned carcass to the Undertaker)are here to enjoy, as is his beating of Brother Love (when we see his blinded eye for the first time), the teasing of Earthquake and the subsequent squashing of Damian (from Superstars in 1991), invading the wedding reception at SummerSlam 1991, putting the cobra on Savage, his return in 1996, etc. Plus various promos, interviews and Snake Pit segments...perhaps Jake's greatest moments of all.
Of course, what would a Jake DVD be without the necessary delve into addiction and substance abuse problems. They are here for all to see. I've always been confused why wrestling fans (particularly on the internet) feel the need to focus on this side of Jake. Anyone in the business (the entire entertainment business for that matter) knows that drink and drugs was a huge part of the lifestyle in the 80s. Wrestlers were no different to the Van Halens, Motley Crues and Ozzys of their era. Some did more than others, and some paid more dearly than others. At least Jake is honest about his mistakes and asks for no pity or remorse. What more can you ask from the man?
There are contributions from the usual DVD participants...Jim Ross, Gene Okerlund, Hulk Hogan and Bruce Pritchard (most of which is complimentary) but Jake himself is the focal point of the disc. Which is how it should be.
I enjoyed this retrospect of one of my favorite wrestlers. I also have his RF shoot interview, so most of the stories I knew already, but the goldmine of extras and rare footage is what makes this such a special DVD for me.
Like many, I feel frustrated with Jake. Annoyed that such an amazing and gifted mind, a master psychologist, a good person with a kind heart and love of the business, never quite hit the heights he could've easily reached.
But it ain't over yet.Get this DVD. Old fans will cherish a childhood hero, young fans can sit back and watch a master at work.
"The Snake always bites back...".
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping And Disturbing, November 2, 2005
While watching this 1 hour 45 minute documentary, I realized that nearly 20 minutes had gone by before it even began to talk about Jake Roberts' wrestling career, and a half hour before the WWE was even mentioned.
And I didn't care. This is the most powerful documentary that the WWE, which is only getting better with it's DVD releases, has ever made. The story could be shown even to a non-wrestling fan and they would find interest in it.
Jake Roberts is a brutally honest man and pulls no punches. There is no attempt to mythologize the man or the horrible things he has done or been a part of. But it's fair and, at the end, cautiously optimistic, which keeps it from being a downing experience.
And speaking strictly as a wrestling fan to interested wrestling fans: If you like Jake 'The Snake' Roberts, definitive has to be the only word for this DVD. Lots of great matches, legendary interviews (and the best of Jake Roberts has always been in his interviews) and deleted scenes as extras make this an essential purchase.
My only complaints, and they're small, really, is that I would have liked to have heard Jake talk about the Heroes Of Wrestling PPV or more in depth about his '91 heel turn and feud with Randy Savage (Jake was, aside from The Undertaker, the greatest heel ever) The DVD curiously does not have any of his excellent matches with Randy Savage, or his legendary DDT to Hulk Hogan in 1986.
A fascinating story of wrestling's most enigmatic figure, and matches that will make fans of old school WWF water at the mouth. This is one the best WWE DVD packages ever.
There are a few EASTER EGGS and they can be accessed by the following means:
DISC 1
- Go to Chapters; highlight 'Growing Up;' and press the 'right' directional arrow twice. This unlocks Jake telling about an experience he had with his father.
- Go to Extras; highlight 'Grizzly Smith'; and press the 'left' directional button twice. This will lead to Hulk Hogan telling of a personal experience he had with Grizzly Smith.
- Go to Extras; highlight 'Legion Of Doom'; and press the 'right' directional arrow twice. This will access a rather odd Easter Egg where Animal tells a brief story that doesn't even mention Jake.
DISC 2
- Go to Extras; highlight 'w/Ricky Steamboat; 'press 'left' twice; and access an archive interview with Jake and Ricky Steamboat as tag team partners!
- Go to Extras; highlight 'vs. Ronnie Garvin'; and press 'right' twice. This unlocks an archive interview leading to this match.
- Go to Extras; highlight 'vs. Earthquake'; and press 'left' twice; this unlocks a pretty cool segment from the old WWF Superstars show showing a confrontation between Jake and Earthquake.
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