The Backstage Story Of Jake Roberts' Snake Biting Randy Savage
Ethan Hayes
Published Mar 27, 2026
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The wrestling world gasped when Jake Roberts' fourteen-foot cobra reared its head back. When the cobra struck and latched onto Macho Man's arm, grown men shrieked, women covered their eyes, and children cried. Few moments in wrestling history have garnered such a visceral reaction, mainly because what fans witnessed was real.
It's nearly impossible to fake a snake biting someone's arm (that's a bump they don't teach in wrestling school). As you can imagine, the risky angle took some planning and a lot of convincing, especially for the reluctant Randy Savage. The backstage story of how this iconic WWE moment came to pass is just as fascinating as the angle itself.
RELATED: Every Jake "The Snake" Roberts WWE Feud, Ranked Worst To Best
Randy Savage Wouldn't Do The Angle Unless The Cobra Bit Jake Roberts First
The storyline between Randy Savage and Jake Roberts was well underway and generated considerable heat. During their on-screen wedding reception, Macho Man and Elizabeth opened a gift box - inside was a hideous, slimy King cobra - Jake's cobra! Elizabeth screamed in horror. In 1991, if you made Elizabeth cry, you were nothing short of the devil himself.
Jake had the brilliant idea of having his devenomized cobra bite Randy in the build-up of their storyline. According to several stories, the Macho Man wasn't feeling too macho when it came to this proposition.
Randy approached Jake backstage and pressed him (in his tight, gravely voice), "About the snake... has he been fixed or not?" Jake informed the Macho Man that indeed (and of course) the snake was fixed. Savage was not sold, "Maybe he has, and maybe he hasn't."
RELATED: Macho Man Randy Savage's 7 Best (& 7 Worst) AttiresRandy Savage wanted proof. Short of a doctor's notice, there was only one way to prove that the cobra was drained of its deathly serum. Randy suggested, "He has to bite you. Now." A frustrated Jake Roberts lifted his pant leg and let his cobra take a free shot. Still, the Macho Man was dissatisfied. "Now, don't move! Don't take no antidote or no pills or nothing. Just sit there. I wanna see the poison go through your body."
Finally, after about ten minutes, Randy was convinced that the stunt would be safe. The angle was on... but Jake Roberts was pissed off.
Jake 'The Snake' & Macho Man Deliver An All-Timer Segment
After Jake Roberts' victory on WWF Superstars, he grabbed the microphone and promptly attacked the Macho Man's masculinity, about as low of an insult that you could sling in 1991. Randy Savage wasted little time marching to the ring and falling into Roberts' trap. Jake 'The Snake' tied Randy's arms between the ring ropes. The former World Champion was helpless, defenseless, and about to be in a world of pain.
Roberts revealed the giant cobra from his bag. The snake looked angry, but Jake wanted to ensure he stayed angry. As payback for the leg bite backstage, Roberts smacked the snake in the face. Or, as Jake put it himself, "I paint brushed the hell of that snake." It worked.
The snake latched onto Savage's arm and didn't let go! The Macho Man screamed in pain while his fans screamed in horror. Close-ups of the snake's grip ensured all watching at home that this was indeed real. Blood seeped from the cobra's mouth and Randy's arm.
What was supposed to be a quick stunt dragged on for minutes. Fans could see Jake trying to shake and yank the snake loose from Savage's arm - but the fangs were sunk in too deep. According to Roberts, the scene went on for much longer than what was televised (the show was pre-recorded). So while the scene went on for an uncomfortable amount of time on the broadcast, the live experience was even longer.
Backstage, panic ensued. Officials sent Savage's real-life and on-screen wife, Elizabeth, down to the ring to plead with Roberts' who was already working frantically to pry the reptile free.
Finally, Jake used both hands to pry his cobra's jaw open - the only way he could remove the insanely tight grip from the Macho Man's arm. Randy Savage made it through one of the most demanding angles of his career, and history was made.
The Legacy of Jake's Snake Biting Randy Savage
All the behind-the-scenes drama of the angle adds more texture to an already iconic moment. The moment itself elevated Roberts' heel persona. The threat of Jake using the snake was all too present for the rest of his career.
The pain that Savage was subjected to during that WWF Superstars taping paid off in spades. The moment was a catalyst for a great, intense rivalry between two of the most outstanding performers of all time. The "bite heard round the world" will always haunt the dreams of ophidophobes and forever live in the lore of WWE history.
