The Resurrection of Jake The Snake

Dir: Steve Yu

2015

*****

I think every generation of wrestling fan will argue that their generation was the golden era. I'm not, nor have I ever been, a big wrestling fan but I do remember watching the UK's ITV wrestling in the mid-80s with my Grandfather that saw the likes of Giant Haystacks and Big Daddy compete against each other. It was good fun with many a colourful character to enjoy. Towards the end of the 80's American wrestling from what was then called the WWF became huge in the UK and many of my school mates became obsessed. I would watch it on a Saturday and I remember quite a few of my mates would have wrestling themed birthday parties that would often involve bouncy castles and bloody-noses. Most of the kids wanted to be either Hulk Hogan or The Ultimate Warrior but those in the know, the proper fans, wanted to be wrestlers like Jake the Snake. I remember myself, even as a casual watcher, Jake the Snake being that character that would make you wonder whether it was all real after all. All these years later, and after doing a bit of research (my colleague at work is obsessed and has told me almost everything there is to know about wrestling over the years) it is clear that wrestling is real, as our the injuries. The undertaker wasn't really an undertaker, Big Boss man wasn't really a police man and not everything was perfect with Mr. Perfect. Wrestlers lived fast and tough lives, particularly in the earlier days where they would be on tour, being thrown about by each other on a nightly basis. When your body is bruised and battered at an early age and feels like that of a person fifty years your age it is understandable that many turned to drink and drugs for pain relief. When you look at many of the greats of the sport, not many of them see later life, with many of them dying well before fifty, if not soon after. Jake the Snake Roberts is one of the most feared, respected, loved and remembered of these greats. He was always quite serious on TV and I remember liking the change of mood his entrance would usually bring. His moves were always perfectly executed and he was the only wrestler who never seemed to shout, demanding the audience’s silent attention with a quiet and husky voice. His is probably best remembered for his character's two traits; his infamous DDT move and his pet snake called Damien (who he'd bring into the ring in a hessian sack), who he would throw upon his components body once they were knocked out. I remember watching one infamous fight whereby the non-venomous snake actually bit into Macho Man Randy Savage. The man was a legend to us youngsters. So it was tragic to learn in later life that he had fallen on tough times, his career pretty much over, he was overweight, his body broken and alcoholic. Unbeknownst to us kids, Jake had had a tough childhood, one whereby the demons never really went away. The Resurrection of Jake The Snake is exactly what it says it is, because when long-time friend and fellow wrestling legend Diamond Dallas Page contacted Jake and offered him help that is what happened. Dallas Page is the hero of this story really, his yoga and fitness program helped save Jake's life and gave him a life back. This film documents the long and winding road to recovery and never once sugar-coats the truth. It's real lesson in addiction, recovery, redemption and most importantly, friendship. It's never emotionally manipulative and it's always brutally honest, certainly no one is ever taken advantage of. One of the beautiful elements of the story is that Jake himself then goes on to help Diamond Dallas Page help another friend of theirs and one-time wrestler Scott 'Razor Ramon' Hall. Watching the three of them help each other out is something quite wonderful, I think this could have been the wrestling script Barton Fink was writing in the Coen Brothers' 1991 film as it was clear that this was each man's biggest fight to date. Even with tears in my eyes it was quite clear to see that wrestling most certainly isn't fixed.