Jake “˜the Snake”™ Roberts making Goofie Newfie stop on “˜Unspoken Word”™ tour

“If they don’t know me by now they’ll never know me,” says Jake “the Snake” Roberts.

The 61-year-old World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) hall of famer will be performing his Unspoken Word show at the Goofie Newfie Pub and Grill in Fergus on June 25.

“It’s basically like taking a trip to the locker room, you know,” Roberts said.

“It’s sitting down, listening to all the jokes and seeing the practical jokes that are played on each other.”    

Roberts was part of the World Wrestling Federation from 1986 to 1992 and again from 1996 to 1997.

Much of his show involves talking about stories of other wrestling favourites like André the Giant, “Macho Man” Randy Savage and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan.

“I’m telling road stories about the road and people have received it really well, really well,” Roberts said. “I guess it’s for them sort of a sneak peak behind the scenes and somebody they watched for years and now they get to hear the inside scoop to it.”

While Roberts says the show is appropriate for a wide audience, he did point out former fans may get more out of it.

“It’s funny to everyone, but it’s certainly more funny for those who can attach a face or look to what I’m talking about and it’s really, really a lot of giggles,” Roberts said.

He has been performing the show for five years as part of his retirement from wrestling.

“It’s work but it’s fun and I have a blast talking to fans, hearing their points of view, hearing what they have to say,” he said.

“And they take me down memory lane as often as I take them because lots of times I’ve forgotten matches that they remember and you know, there’s been a lot of times I’ve dealt with and then of course being clean and sober now certainly helps.”

Roberts struggled with an alcohol and drug addiction but has been clean for about five years now.

“I learned there’s a lot of people out there hurting that have not stepped forward yet and tried to get help,” he said.

“And I just want them to know that even though they probably feel like they can’t get … better they can, you know.

“It takes work.”

Before each show Roberts holds a meet and greet for ticket holders.

“I’ll take a picture with them, spend a couple minutes talking with them and if they want to hang around and talk some more later after I get through the line once, then we do that,” Roberts said.

“I encourage those people that are struggling with addiction or alcoholism, if you want to talk about that I would love to talk to you about that.”

There isn’t anything about his past addiction that’s off limits for questions.

“The Goofie Newfie, it’s an intimate and interactive type of place … so it’s going to be a really special show having Jake right up front and personal,” said Greg Manley from Scorpion Entertainment in Elora.

“Everybody’s going to be more or less like sitting in their basement watching him talk.”

The doors for the Goofie Newfie open at 6:30pm on June 25 for the show. After the meet and greet comedian Ryan Denee will perform a set, followed by Fergus-based comedian Jeff McEnery, with Roberts closing out the night.

Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. They’re available at the Goofie Newfie or by calling Manley at 519-731-4966. He said will deliver tickets to residents in the Fergus-Elora area.

 

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