On April 27, 1991, WWF television showed Earthquake attacking the bag associated with Jake “The Snake” Roberts’s pet python, Damien, while Roberts was tied to the ropes and forced to watch. The scene was presented as Damien being crushed, but Roberts later described it as a planned wrestling angle, and a wrestling-history account says the bag held a prop—not the live snake.
What happened on WWF Superstars?
WWE’s archive dates the segment to WWF Superstars on April 27, 1991, and titles it “Earthquake flattens Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts’ pet snake Damien.” WWE’s archive entry identifies the clip and its date.
In the televised storyline, Earthquake attacked the bag while Roberts was restrained in the ropes and had to watch. The presentation made it look as though Damien was being crushed; it was not evidence that the live snake was actually harmed.
Was Damien really in the bag?
Roberts later recalled the scene as an idea proposed for the show, rather than an actual killing. A historical account by the Official Wrestling Museum says the bag contained pantyhose stuffed with hamburger and a small motor used to imitate a live snake. That production detail comes from the museum’s secondary account, not from WWE’s clip listing.
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WWE’s biography identifies Damien as Roberts’s pet python and describes Roberts carrying a python in a burlap sack. WWE’s biography of Jake Roberts supports the python identification; “boa constrictor” is not the species description established by that source.
Why did Roberts want to watch?
In an interview with ITR Wrestling, Roberts recalled that Vince initially wanted the moment to happen when Roberts could not see Earthquake do the damage. Roberts said he argued for being tied to the ropes and made to watch, because he felt that version made the scene more disturbing.
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“it’s more important this guy ties me to the ropes, and this guy to show me what he’s doing. Because that’s really evil.”
Roberts also recalled, “RSPCA gave me a hard time!” Both remarks are his recollections in the interview, not independent confirmation of what was in the bag or how the scene was produced. Read the ITR Wrestling interview.
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Why do accounts describe different versions of the footage?
The Official Wrestling Museum’s account says the Superstars broadcast cut away at the moment of impact, while a later WWF Prime Time Wrestling presentation showed the action without that interruption. If both versions are available, the difference is in how the scene was edited and presented; it does not establish that a live snake was involved in the apparent impact.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where can you watch the segment?
WWE’s archive page is the official starting point for the clip. WWE lists ways to access its content there, but viewing options can change and may vary by region.
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