Jake Roberts Discusses Old-School Training vs. Modern Wrestling Preparation

(Photo Credit: AEW)

WWE Hall of Famer Jake โ€œThe Snakeโ€ Roberts took to an episode of his Snake Pit podcast, where he talked about a number of topics including if he thinks young wrestlers need to be roughed up by veterans during training.

Roberts said, โ€œI donโ€™t think so. I donโ€™t, I donโ€™t think so. I think you need to test them, I think you need to push the s**t out of them, you know. Make them work and work hard. But thereโ€™s no need to physically abuse them.โ€

On the physical aspect of training:

โ€œOh sure, you can do push-ups and squats all day long, but that doesnโ€™t get you a thing about wrestling. So itโ€™s kind of โ€” you know, itโ€™s really stupid, man. Thatโ€™s old school thinking, though, you know. I mean hell, today people canโ€™t do push-ups, squats, or even farts.โ€

On ring shape:

โ€œIโ€™ve seen a lot of football players get into the ring, and theyโ€™re in great football shape. And two minutes theyโ€™re blown up. Itโ€™s a constant push and pull that gets you, you know. Because youโ€™re always tugging or pushing on somebody.โ€

On winning the Louisiana Championship for Bill Watts being the first title he had in the U.S.:

โ€œIt was special man, because it pushed me up the card. By all rights I should have made more money, but that was Bill Watts, you know. He paid you what he had to, not what he wanted to. You know what Iโ€™m saying?โ€

You can check out the complete podcast in the video below.

(H/T to 411Mania.com for transcribing the above quotes)