Message #11959

[nightrain]

WRESTLING legend Jake 'The Snake' Roberts has announced his retirement from the squared circle.

The 55-year-old grappler brought down the curtain on his career at an indy show in New York.

Roberts gave a touching speech in the ring and talked about his father Grizzly Smith, who passed away in June.

The pair had a troubled relationship but the ex-WWE star Jake said he entered the wrestling business to make his dad proud and they had become close again.

He then thanked fans and said he could no longer compete due to medical issues.

Roberts' 35 years in the ring contained huge highs but also heartbreaking lows.

He will always be renowned as one of the greatest minds in the wrestling business, the inventor of the DDT and a key part of the wrestling boom of the 1980s.

His first WWE run included memorable matches and feuds with the likes of Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, 'Ravishing' Rick Rude, Andre The Giant, Earthquake and 'Macho Man' Randy Savage.

However, his later years were blighted by a serious drug addiction that he admits should have killed him. He credits WWE-paid rehab for saving his life.

In a SunSport interview conducted last year, Roberts admitted: "Regardless of the reasons WWE did it ? whether it was for love or because of the pressure Vince McMahon was being put under by the government over steroids and drugs ? I don't care.

"If you save the life of one human being you should be sainted for it.

"You don't just save one life, you save everybody around that person from suffering. Now I can enjoy life and enjoy being a father and a grandfather.

"I feel fortunate to be alive."

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/3112769/Jake-Roberts-has-retired-from-wrestling.html