Jake "The Snake" Roberts DDTs Hulk Hogan (lost Snake Pit segment; 1986): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 13:16, 22 February 2024

Providence Rematch Newspaper Ad Roberts Hogan.png

A newspaper advertisement for the rematch between Roberts and Hogan in Providence, RI.

Status: Lost

Roberts being interviewed on WWF Canadian television about his upcoming bout with Hulk Hogan in Winnipeg

Roberts’ insert promo on Hulk Hogan from January 10, 1987

On November 1, 2005, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) released a DVD highlighting the career of professional wrestler Jake "The Snake" Roberts. ^[1] On the DVD, Hulk Hogan revealed that Roberts was to feud with Hogan in a pre-determined storyline over the then-World Wrestling Federation (WWF) World Heavyweight Championship. At the time, Hogan was a babyface, or crowd favorite, and Roberts was a heel, or villain. ^[2]

To begin this storyline, Roberts invited Hogan to his interview segment known as "The Snake Pit". According to a 2016 interview with Roberts, Roberts states the segment sees Hogan compare the size of his arms, nicknamed "pythons", to Roberts actual pythons that he used to adorn the set and to serve as his mascot. Roberts uses his finishing move, the DDT, on Hogan to lay out Hogan and begin the feud. According to Roberts, WWF owner Vince McMahon stood by the curtain after Roberts planned assault with Roberts to gauge the reaction of the fans. Instead of the fans cheering for Hogan, as planned, the fans instead chanted "DDT", supporting Roberts instead of Hogan. Because of this reaction, the footage of Roberts DDT'ing Hogan and the planned feud, intended to tour nationwide, was canceled. ^[3]

The two, however, would meet in Providence, RI on December 30, 1986 with some speculating that the footage of Roberts DDT'ing Hogan had aired in that market to set up the bout. ^[4] Footage has surfaced from a regional broadcast of WWF's then-third-tier syndicated program Wrestling Spotlight of the December 30 bout between Hogan and Roberts referencing that the match was set up due to actions that took place on "The Snake Pit" and that there would be a re-match on January 29, 1987. ^[5] According to the History of WWE, the rematch took place, with Hogan winning via pinfall.

A match between the two also took place on February 28, 1987 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. ^[6]

While the matches took place and the DDT was referenced on television, it is believed that only the Providence and Winnipeg markets were shown the footage of Roberts DDT'ing Hogan. A promo during a Roberts match from the January 10, 1987 episode of Superstars of Wrestling has announcer Vince McMahon throwing to an insert promo of Roberts with the lead-in being that Roberts' promo were words for Hulk Hogan. ^[7]

Additionally, Roberts cut a promo referencing "The Snake Pit" incident that aired on WWF Canadian television^[8]

Potential "Snake Pit" Episodes

There has been an effort among pro wrestling fans to track down this missing episode of "The Snake Pit". Hulk Hogan appeared on the talk show segment several times previous to their bouts in Providence and Winnipeg.

October 12, 1986 "Snake Pit" from Salisbury, MD

A screencap of the October 12, 1986 “Snake Pit” with Hogan (left) and Roberts (right)

A segment that aired on Wrestling Challenge on October 12, 1986 features Roberts asking Hogan if he would turn his back on anyone he was afraid of. Hogan says "No" and walks off, implying that he is not afraid of Roberts. ^[9] The original airing in the United States often did not feature Hogan turning his back on Roberts and walking away depending on markets. Because the episode aired without the entire "Snake Pit" in the United States, a fact that was not necessarily realized until the episode was rebroadcast in the UK as "WWE Classics" in the early 2000s, there is speculation that this segment was actually even longer and may have contained the missing DDT.

November 23, 1986 "Snake Pit" from Glens Falls, NY

A screencap of the November 23, 1986 “Snake Pit” with Hogan (left) and Roberts (right)

A segment that aired on Wrestling Challenge on November 23, 1986 features Hogan on "The Snake Pit" and a reference to the pythons that is consistent with Roberts' 2016 remembrance of the events. The segment references Hogan's ongoing feud with "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff leading some to believe this is not "The Snake Pit" in question but does end quite abruptly, fading to black, seemingly in mid-conversation leading others to think that this could be the segment. Additionally, this "Snake Pit" aired prior to their first bout in Providence. ^[10]

Missing January 4, 1987 "Snake Pit" from Tuscon, AZ

At the December 10, 1986, the WWF filmed four episodes of Wrestling Challenge in Tuscon, AZ to air on December 21 and December 28, 1986 and January 4, and January 11, 1987. The January 4, 1987 episode is the only episode from this set of tapings that aired without a "Snake Pit" segment, leading some to speculate that the missing "Snake Pit" may have been filmed with the intention to air on this episode but was not for reasons stated by both Hogan and Roberts. This theory leads to the most timely instance of a "Snake Pit" occurring in relation to the Providence, RI bouts.

References

↑ Amazon page of Jake "The Snake" Roberts - Pick Your Poison. Retrieved 15 August 2016
↑ "World Wrestling Entertainment Presents Jake 'The Snake' Roberts' Pick Your Poison" DVD
↑ THE HANNIBAL TV - "Jake Roberts on Hulk Hogan Feud". Retrieved 15 August 2016
↑ The History of WWE page of WWF 1986 season results. Retrieved 15 August 2016
↑ "Clip of Jake Roberts/Hulk Hogan match from Providence, RI (12-30-1986)". Retrieved 15 August 2016
↑ The History of WWE page of WWF 1987 season results. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
↑ "Jake Roberts Promo on Hulk Hogan (01-10-1987)". Retrieved 15 August 2016.
↑ "Jake Roberts.mpg". Retrieved 15 August 2016.
↑ "WWF Snake Pit Hulk Hogan Extended (10-12-86)". Retrieved 15 August 2016.
↑ "Snake Pit - Hulk Hogan (11-23-86)". Retrieved 15 August 2016.

[1] Amazon page of Jake "The Snake" Roberts - Pick Your Poison. Retrieved 15 August 2016

[2] "World Wrestling Entertainment Presents Jake 'The Snake' Roberts' Pick Your Poison" DVD

[3] THE HANNIBAL TV - "Jake Roberts on Hulk Hogan Feud". Retrieved 15 August 2016

[4] The History of WWE page of WWF 1986 season results. Retrieved 15 August 2016

[5] "Clip of Jake Roberts/Hulk Hogan match from Providence, RI (12-30-1986)". Retrieved 15 August 2016

[6] The History of WWE page of WWF 1987 season results. Retrieved 15 August 2016.

[7] "Jake Roberts Promo on Hulk Hogan (01-10-1987)". Retrieved 15 August 2016.

[8] "Jake Roberts.mpg". Retrieved 15 August 2016.

[9] "WWF Snake Pit Hulk Hogan Extended (10-12-86)". Retrieved 15 August 2016.

[10] "Snake Pit - Hulk Hogan (11-23-86)". Retrieved 15 August 2016.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 [[File: Roberts_Winnipeg_Interview.png|200px|thumb|right|Roberts being interviewed on WWF Canadian television about his upcoming bout with Hulk Hogan in Winnipeg]] [[File: January_10_1987_Roberts_Insert.png|200px|thumb|right|Roberts’ insert promo on Hulk Hogan from January 10, 1987]]
-On November 1, 2005, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) released a DVD highlighting the career of professional wrestler Jake "The Snake" Roberts. <ref>[https://www.amazon.com/WWE-Jake-Snake-Roberts-Poison/dp/B000AOEPT8] Amazon. Retrieved 15 August 2016 </ref> On the DVD, Hulk Hogan revealed that Roberts was to feud with Hogan in a pre-determined storyline over the then-World Wrestling Federation (WWF) World Heavyweight Championship. At the time, Hogan was a babyface, or crowd favorite, and Roberts was a heel, or villain. <ref>"World Wrestling Entertainment Presents Jake 'The Snake' Roberts' Pick Your Poison" DVD</ref>
+On November 1, 2005, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) released a DVD highlighting the career of professional wrestler Jake "The Snake" Roberts. <ref>[https://www.amazon.com/WWE-Jake-Snake-Roberts-Poison/dp/B000AOEPT8 Amazon page of ''Jake "The Snake" Roberts - Pick Your Poison''.] Retrieved 15 August 2016 </ref> On the DVD, Hulk Hogan revealed that Roberts was to feud with Hogan in a pre-determined storyline over the then-World Wrestling Federation (WWF) World Heavyweight Championship. At the time, Hogan was a babyface, or crowd favorite, and Roberts was a heel, or villain. <ref>"World Wrestling Entertainment Presents Jake 'The Snake' Roberts' Pick Your Poison" DVD</ref>
-To begin this storyline, Roberts invited Hogan to his interview segment known as "The Snake Pit". According to a 2016 interview with Roberts, Roberts states the segment sees Hogan compare the size of his arms, nicknamed "pythons", to Roberts actual pythons that he used to adorn the set and to serve as his mascot. Roberts uses his finishing move, the DDT, on Hogan to lay out Hogan and begin the feud. According to Roberts, WWF owner Vince McMahon stood by the curtain after Roberts planned assault with Roberts to gauge the reaction of the fans. Instead of the fans cheering for Hogan, as planned, the fans instead chanted "DDT", supporting Roberts instead of Hogan. Because of this reaction, the footage of Roberts DDT'ing Hogan and the planned feud, intended to tour nationwide, was canceled. <ref> [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btonA4H7D4g] THE HANNIBAL TV - "Jake Roberts on Hulk Hogan Feud". Retrieved 15 August 2016 </ref>
+To begin this storyline, '''Roberts invited Hogan to his interview segment known as "The Snake Pit"'''. According to a 2016 interview with Roberts, Roberts states the segment sees Hogan compare the size of his arms, nicknamed "pythons", to Roberts actual pythons that he used to adorn the set and to serve as his mascot. Roberts uses his finishing move, the DDT, on Hogan to lay out Hogan and begin the feud. According to Roberts, WWF owner Vince McMahon stood by the curtain after Roberts planned assault with Roberts to gauge the reaction of the fans. Instead of the fans cheering for Hogan, as planned, the fans instead chanted "DDT", supporting Roberts instead of Hogan. Because of this reaction, the footage of Roberts DDT'ing Hogan and the planned feud, intended to tour nationwide, was canceled. <ref> [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btonA4H7D4g THE HANNIBAL TV - "Jake Roberts on Hulk Hogan Feud"]. Retrieved 15 August 2016 </ref>
-The two, however, would meet in Providence, RI on December 30, 1986 with some speculating that the footage of Roberts DDT'ing Hogan had aired in that market to set up the bout. <ref> [http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/86.htm] The History of WWE. Retrieved 15 August 2016 </ref> Footage has surfaced from a regional broadcast of WWF's then-third-tier syndicated program Wrestling Spotlight of the December 30 bout between Hogan and Roberts referencing that the match was set up due to actions that took place on "The Snake Pit" and that there would be a re-match on January 29, 1987. <ref> [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znVLuce720s] "Clip of Jake Roberts/Hulk Hogan match from Providence, RI (12-30-1986)". Retrieved 15 August 2016</ref> According to the History of WWE, the rematch took place, with Hogan winning via pinfall.
+The two, however, would meet in Providence, RI on December 30, 1986 with some speculating that the footage of Roberts DDT'ing Hogan had aired in that market to set up the bout. <ref> [http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/86.htm The History of WWE page of WWF 1986 season results]. Retrieved 15 August 2016 </ref> Footage has surfaced from a regional broadcast of WWF's then-third-tier syndicated program Wrestling Spotlight of the December 30 bout between Hogan and Roberts referencing that the match was set up due to actions that took place on "The Snake Pit" and that there would be a re-match on January 29, 1987. <ref> [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znVLuce720s "Clip of Jake Roberts/Hulk Hogan match from Providence, RI (12-30-1986)"]. Retrieved 15 August 2016</ref> According to the History of WWE, the rematch took place, with Hogan winning via pinfall.
-A match between the two also took place on February 28, 1987 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. <ref> [http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/87.htm] The History of WWE. Retrieved 15 August 2016. </ref>
+A match between the two also took place on February 28, 1987 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. <ref> [http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/87.htm The History of WWE page of WWF 1987 season results.] Retrieved 15 August 2016. </ref>
-While the matches took place and the DDT was referenced on television, it is believed that only the Providence and Winnipeg markets were shown the footage of Roberts DDT'ing Hogan. A promo during a Roberts match from the January 10, 1987 episode of Superstars of Wrestling has announcer Vince McMahon throwing to an insert promo of Roberts with the lead-in being that Roberts' promo were words for Hulk Hogan. <ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reb4Ck-SiBE] "Jake Roberts Promo on Hulk Hogan (01-10-1987)". Retrieved 15 August 2016.</ref>
+While the matches took place and the DDT was referenced on television, it is believed that only the Providence and Winnipeg markets were shown the footage of Roberts DDT'ing Hogan. A promo during a Roberts match from the January 10, 1987 episode of Superstars of Wrestling has announcer Vince McMahon throwing to an insert promo of Roberts with the lead-in being that Roberts' promo were words for Hulk Hogan. <ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reb4Ck-SiBE "Jake Roberts Promo on Hulk Hogan (01-10-1987)]". Retrieved 15 August 2016.</ref>
-Additionally, Roberts cut a promo referencing "The Snake Pit" incident that aired on WWF Canadian television<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR2kPDrhFE8] "Jake Roberts.mpg". Retrieved 15 August 2016.</ref>
+Additionally, Roberts cut a promo referencing "The Snake Pit" incident that aired on WWF Canadian television<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR2kPDrhFE8 "Jake Roberts.mpg"]. Retrieved 15 August 2016.</ref>
 ==Potential "Snake Pit" Episodes==
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 [[File: October_12_Snake_Pit.png|200px|thumb|center|A screencap of the October 12, 1986 “Snake Pit” with Hogan (left) and Roberts (right)]]
-A segment that aired on Wrestling Challenge on October 12, 1986 features Roberts asking Hogan if he would turn his back on anyone he was afraid of. Hogan says "No" and walks off, implying that he is not afraid of Roberts. <ref> [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUAGPeCHcnM] "WWF Snake Pit Hulk Hogan Extended (10-12-86)". Retrieved 15 August 2016.</ref> The original airing in the United States often did not feature Hogan turning his back on Roberts and walking away depending on markets. Because the episode aired without the entire "Snake Pit" in the United States, a fact that was not necessarily realized until the episode was rebroadcast in the UK as "WWE Classics" in the early 2000s, there is speculation that this segment was actually even longer and may have contained the missing DDT.
+A segment that aired on Wrestling Challenge on October 12, 1986 features Roberts asking Hogan if he would turn his back on anyone he was afraid of. Hogan says "No" and walks off, implying that he is not afraid of Roberts. <ref> [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUAGPeCHcnM "WWF Snake Pit Hulk Hogan Extended (10-12-86)"]. Retrieved 15 August 2016.</ref> The original airing in the United States often did not feature Hogan turning his back on Roberts and walking away depending on markets. Because the episode aired without the entire "Snake Pit" in the United States, a fact that was not necessarily realized until the episode was rebroadcast in the UK as "WWE Classics" in the early 2000s, there is speculation that this segment was actually even longer and may have contained the missing DDT.
 ===November 23, 1986 "Snake Pit" from Glens Falls, NY===
@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 [[File: November_23_Snake_Pit.png|200px|thumb|center|A screencap of the November 23, 1986 “Snake Pit” with Hogan (left) and Roberts (right)]]
-A segment that aired on Wrestling Challenge on November 23, 1986 features Hogan on "The Snake Pit" and a reference to the pythons that is consistent with Roberts' 2016 remembrance of the events. The segment references Hogan's ongoing feud with "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff leading some to believe this is not "The Snake Pit" in question but does end quite abruptly, fading to black, seemingly in mid-conversation leading others to think that this could be the segment. Additionally, this "Snake Pit" aired prior to their first bout in Providence. <ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBeQAyRQ6zg] "Snake Pit - Hulk Hogan (11-23-86)". Retrieved 15 August 2016.</ref>
+A segment that aired on Wrestling Challenge on November 23, 1986 features Hogan on "The Snake Pit" and a reference to the pythons that is consistent with Roberts' 2016 remembrance of the events. The segment references Hogan's ongoing feud with "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff leading some to believe this is not "The Snake Pit" in question but does end quite abruptly, fading to black, seemingly in mid-conversation leading others to think that this could be the segment. Additionally, this "Snake Pit" aired prior to their first bout in Providence. <ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBeQAyRQ6zg "Snake Pit - Hulk Hogan (11-23-86)"]. Retrieved 15 August 2016.</ref>
 ===Missing January 4, 1987 "Snake Pit" from Tuscon, AZ===
 At the December 10, 1986, the WWF filmed four episodes of Wrestling Challenge in Tuscon, AZ to air on December 21 and December 28, 1986 and January 4, and January 11, 1987. The January 4, 1987 episode is the only episode from this set of tapings that aired without a "Snake Pit" segment, leading some to speculate that the missing "Snake Pit" may have been filmed with the intention to air on this episode but was not for reasons stated by both Hogan and Roberts. This theory leads to the most timely instance of a "Snake Pit" occurring in relation to the Providence, RI bouts.
+==See Also==
+*[[AJ Styles vs Kenny Omega (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 2006)]]
+*[[Alberto Del Rio vs CM Punk vs Dolph Ziggler vs Jack Swagger vs John Cena (partially found master tape footage of untelevised Hell in a Cell match; 2011)]]
+*[[Awesome Kong vs Melissa Anderson (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 2009)]]
+*[[Bill Longson vs Whipper Billy Watson (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 1947)]]
+*[[Blood Circus (partially found Santo Gold film; 1985)]]
+*[[Braden Walker's "Knock Knock" promo (lost original pre-tapes of WWE backstage segment; 2008)]]
+*[[Bradshaw vs Christian (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 2001)]]
+*[[Bret Hart-Hulk Hogan photoshoot (lost professional wrestling promotional photos; 1993)]]
+*[[Bret Hart vs Tom Magee (found untelevised professional wrestling match; 1986)]]
+*[[Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestling (lost early BBC televised professional wrestling matches; 1938-1939; 1946-1947)]]
+*[[Celebrity Wrestling (partially found ITV professional wrestling reality show; 2005)]]
+*[[Chowdaheads (partially found unaired professional wrestling cartoon show; 1999)]]
+*[[Collision in Korea (found professional wrestling event in North Korea; 1995)]]
+*[[Collision in Korea wrestler sketches (lost North Korean pencil sketch portraits of professional wrestlers; 1995)]]
+*[[Cultaholic (found debut video of professional wrestling YouTube channel; 2017)]]
+*[[ECW Anarchy Rulz (lost build of cancelled Nintendo 64 port of professional wrestling game; existence unconfirmed; 2000)]]
+*[[ECW at E3 2000 (partially found footage of professional wrestling at gaming trade event; 2000)]]
+*[[ECW Hardcore TV final episodes (lost episodes of Professional Wrestling Show; 2001)]]
+*[[FMW at E3 2000 (partially found footage of professional wrestling at gaming trade event; 2000)]]
+*[[The Game (partially found Disturbed cover of professional wrestling theme song; mid 2000s)]]
+*[[GFW Amped (partially found unaired professional wrestling show; 2015)]]
+*[[The Giant's moonsault (lost footage of professional wrestling move; existence unconfirmed; 1990s)]]
+*[[Girls Gone Wild: Live from Spring Break (found WWE/Girls Gone Wild crossover special; 2003)]]
+*[[GLOW (lost unfinished final season of Netflix comedy-drama series; 2019-2020)]]
+*[[Goldberg's pre-television debut matches (lost footage of professional wrestling dark matches; 1997)]]
+*[[Gotch-Hackenschmidt Match Film (lost world championship match; 1908)]]
+*[[Gotch-Hackenschmidt Match Film (lost world championship match; 1911)]]
+*[[Johnny Gargano vs Velveteen Dream (lost footage of alternate finish to professional wrestling match; 2019)]]
+*[[Kurt Angle vs Owen Hart (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 1999)]]
+*[[The Last Battle of Atlanta (found untelevised professional wrestling steel cage match; 1983)]]
+*[[Lita's training matches (partially found training videos of professional wrestler; late 1990s-2000)]]
+*[[Low Ki & Mercury vs Ric Blade & TCK (partially lost footage of hardcore wrestling tag team match; 2000)]]
+*[[Mark Jindrak in Evolution (partially found unaired vignettes of professional wrestling stable; 2003)]]
+*[[Pat Tanaka vs Rocco Rock (lost footage of "Body Count" professional wrestling match; 1993)]]
+*[["Plane Ride From Hell" (lost photographs of drunk wrestler incidents; 2002)]]
+*[[Radio WWF (lost professional wrestling radio show; 1993-1994; late 1990s-2000)]]
+*[[Screwed: The Bret Hart Story (lost unfinished wrestling documentary film; 2005)]]
+*[[Sex University (lost WWE webshow; 2006)]]
+*[[Shin Nihon Pro Wrestling Gekitou Densetsu (lost build of unreleased Virtual Boy wrestling game; 1995)]]
+*[[Strange Kentucky People (lost recording of Chris Jericho "tribute"; 1994)]]
+*[[TNA Impact! 2 (lost build of unfinished professional wrestling game; 2009)]]
+*[[TNA International and TNA Wrestling Collection (completely lost pro-wrestling TV shows; 2006)]]
+*[[TNA Xplosion (partially found TV series; 2002-2016)]]
+*[[WCW 2000 (lost work on unfinished PlayStation 2 game; 2000)]]
+*[[WCW All Nighter (partially lost professional wrestling compilation show; 1994-1995)]]
+*[[WCW Classics (partially found professional wrestling compilation show; 2000-2001)]]
+*[[WCW Internet-only Special Events and PPVs (lost audio streams; 1997-1998)]]
+*[[WCW/nWo Live (lost build of cancelled PlayStation professional wrestling game; 1998)]]
+*[[WWE 24x7 (lost professional wrestling compilation show; 2007)]]
+*[[WWE Brawl (lost build of cancelled fighting game based on professional wrestling; 2012)]]
+*[[WWE Crush Hour (lost build of cancelled Xbox port of vehicular combat game; 2002)]]
+*[[WWE SmackDown vs Raw Online (lost build of cancelled online professional wrestling PC game; 2010-2011)]]
+*[[WWE Wrestlemania 36 (lost footage of alternate finishes to professional wrestling matches; 2020)]]
+*[[WWF Attitude (lost professional wrestling recap show; 2001-2002)]]
+*[[WWF Backlash (non-existent unfinished Nintendo 64 professional wrestling game; 2001)]]
+*[[WWF Excess (partially found professional wrestling talk show; 2001-2002)]]
+*[[WWF In Your House 8: Beware Of Dog (partially found untelevised professional wrestling matches; 1996)]]
+*[[WWF Livewire (partially found professional wrestling recap and talk show; 1996-2001)]]
+*[[WWF No Mercy (lost Game Boy Color games based on Nintendo 64 wrestling game; 2000)]]
+*[[WWF Shotgun (partially found July to December season of syndicated wrestling show; 1997)]]
+*[[WWF Xperience (found pay-per-view event footage; 1996)]]
 ==References==