#3 Jake Roberts holds up Vince McMahon
1996 is normally the year we associate with WWF stars jumping ship to WCW. Scott Hall and Kevin Nash are obviously the most well-known of such cases, but that year also saw guys like Lex Luger and Rick Roode part ways with the McMahons. There were, however, several Superstars who left for WCW before it was cool. One such name was Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts.
While never enjoying the main event status of somebody like Hogan or Warrior, Jake Roberts was a highly respected and well thought of member of the WWF’s golden era. His initial run as a heel was received so well by the fans that he was forced to turn face, where he would enjoy arguably his best run ever in the sport. It is unfortunate, therefore, that his time with WWF ended under such negative circumstances.
In the build up to WrestleMania 8, Roberts put in a request to be more of a backstage talent, as he knew his days in the ring were numbered. He was even eyeing up Pat Patterson’s executive position after a sex scandal forced Pat to take a leave of absence. After McMahon had declined Jake’s request, the former IC Champion asked to leave the company altogether. Again, this was denied by Vince, who clearly thought too much of him as a talent to see him leave.
The whole thing came to a head when Roberts threatened not to work his match with Undertaker at Mania. Considering these were the early days of the Deadman’s career, and given how much effort was going into making the Phenom a future legend, McMahon gave in and granted Roberts his termination.
Not long after becoming the second victim of The Undertaker’s 31-year undefeated streak, Roberts would be wrestling for Vince’s main rival WCW. And while the southern promotion was not yet at the heights it would come to enjoy, this must have been a bitter pill for McMahon to swallow.
