Insane Insights From Dark Side Of The Ring - Grizzly Smith
Okay, so I hate starting an Introduction to the Dark Side of the Ring review with first person, but I have to in this case. This episode defines the Dark in Dark Side of the Ring. This episode focuses on some really disgusting actions and taboo topics. It discusses incest, sexual abuse, murder, drug abuse, to name a few. The documentary included this image down below before it started.
If you want to skip this episode, I understand. However, if you want to watch this episode, or read the rest of this article, just prepare to be horrified. The actions of Grizzly Smith are heinous and disturbing, with what he did to children, including his own kids Jake Roberts, Sam Houston, Rockin Robin, and Richard Nabors.
10. Grizzly Smith Did Not Want His Son Jake Roberts In Professional Wrestling
Jake Roberts originally did not want to be a part of the wrestling business. That was until his father kept tormenting him and telling him he did not want him to get involved, so Jake continued to stick it to his father. It also motivated Jake, when Grizzly tried to blackball him, by asking promoters to fire him. Grizzly would even publicly tell Jake that he was embarrassed by him. Well, Jake continued, and became a much bigger star than Grizzly was. The saddest part is, Grizzly never once said he was proud of his kid.
9. The Unknown Child of Grizzly Smith
It was known for years that Grizzly had 4 kids, however, there was another kid that he kept secret. His name is Richard Nabors, and he was less known, because he refused to be a part of the wrestling business. A big reason why, was how brutal the travel is. Richard is a smart man, because the schedule was inhumane in those days.
Nabors then became Grizzly's caretaker when he eventually got Alzheimer's Disease. Nabors never got the answer to why he was given up for adoption, but he feels that he was the lucky one among the rest of his siblings.
8. Baby Doll's Story of Grizzly Smith Picking Kids up
The documentary got to interview Baby Doll, who was the wife of Sam Houston. There is a disturbing story she tells. While on the road, Grizzly Smith had a habit of picking up kids. One time in front of her, Grizzly picked up a 14 or 15-year-old girl during road trips, and took her away from her parents for multiple days. The parents would wave goodbye, and tell her to have fun. Baby Doll was right there, and never saw/understood why he did it.
7. The Disturbing Way Jake Roberts's Mother Got Pregnant
Oh dear, I knew about this story watching Jake Roberts's interview with Joe Rogan. Roberts had a traumatic childhood, and the way his mother got pregnant was insane. Grizzly Smith was dating Jake Roberts's grandmother when he met Jake's Mother. Jake's mother, who was 13 years old at the time, got pregnant by Grizzly. That baby ultimately became Jake "The Snake" Roberts. They had to marry when she was 17, to not separate Jake from the family. What an absolute piece of garbage Grizzly Smith is. What's more disturbing is in the Beyond The Mat documentary, Grizzly told the cameras "Jake was born out of love and I still loved him.". Yeah, I believe Hulk Hogan more than this guy.
6. Grizzly Smith Abused Rockin Robin
Rockin Robin tells her story of abuse in the documentary, and it gets disturbing. Grizzly started to manipulate and groom Robin when she was 8 years old. There would be hours of him ignoring Robin, and getting her upset, and when he spoke to her, he would tell her that "Daddy loved her". That started to relieve her, until Grizzly put his hands on her. Grizzly Smith is the absolute devil for doing that. Want to know the worst part? He would do this to her until she turned 14 years old. When she was 14, Robin told her mother what was going on, and she immediately left grizzly and threatened to shoot him if he tried doing that again.
5. Jo Lynn's Kidnapping
Jo Lynn was the other daughter that Grizzly Smith had, and she was kidnapped in 1979, never to be seen again. The documentary got the former Chief of Police Carl Gage to speak about this. It was revealed that the ex-wife of Jo Lynn's husband admitted to kidnapping her, but she somehow escaped and was never seen again. Murder charges could not be filed since there was no body found.
The trial happened, and Grizzly Smith had plans to strangle the kidnapper. He was the only one who appeared at the trial, and had a piece of piano wire with him. He was getting ready to strangle her, but police surrounded him to ensure he wouldn't do it. The woman who kidnapped Jo Lynn was sentenced to 33 years in prison, and only served 7 years of it.
4. Grizzly Smith Would Even Show Up At His Daughter's House With Young Kids
Another disturbing story about Grizzly Smith was told by Rockin Robin. She reveals that Grizzly Smith would appear at her house with a 9-year-old girl, and ask Robin if she had the stuff to make a daiquiri drink. When Robin saw what was going on, she lost all color in her face, and would ask all kinds of questions. When Grizzly Smith wanted to leave, Robin allowed him to, but not with the 9-year-old kid. Grizzly wasn't happy, but followed her order.
3. Sam Houston's Issues with Alcohol
There have been multiple stories of Sam Houston's issues with Alcohol, and I have lost track of how many times he has been arrested for DUI. He got so many DUIs, that he once held the record for most DUIs in the state of Texas. Something crazy mentioned by his ex-wife Baby Doll, is that Sam Houston would drink 32 Crown and Cokes (Whisky and Cola). If that's not a definition of an alcohol problem, then what is? Grizzly would often get him out of prison time, but after so many mess ups, Houston was facing 30 years in prison. Houston was in such a rough state, that he almost committed suicide in prison.
2 Jake Roberts Issues With Drugs
Jake The Snake Roberts, for many long years, was addicted to a lot of different drugs. The man himself admitted that cocaine stole the most important years of his life. In one of his drugged-out states, he tells a story of how freaky it can get, with multiple women being around, then a rabbit, dog, etc. The biggest lowlight, was him on that Heroes of Wrestling episode, where he went to the ring all drugged out, and began doing disgusting acts on a snake. That whole PPV needs its separate episode of Dark Side of the Ring.
1 Grizzly Smith Had No Regrets
Grizzly Smith passed away in 2010 due to Alzheimer's Disease. As mentioned earlier, Richard became his caretaker, and the big takeaway was that Grizzly had no regrets. He never once apologized to anyone, or his kids for what he did. Sam Houston found out about Grizzly's death while he was in prison for his DUI, and it's one of the worst ways to find out that your father passed away.
My Thoughts On The Documentary
I told you that this was going to be a dark one. Let's start on this, Grizzly Smith is the most evil person in the wrestling business ever. If you believe in heaven and hell, Grizzly Smith is absolutely in hell. The fact that people joked about it in the locker room, and kept hiring him in a behind-the-scenes role, in both WCW and other promotions, is a disgrace. Screw him and screw his legacy.
It's no wonder Jake the Snake Roberts had his issues with drugs and alcohol. The way he grew up destroys a person's mind. Thank goodness he is still around, and is sober today. That goes for Rockin' Robin, Sam Houston, and Richard Nabors. What they all have gone through is terrifying. Hopefully, they are all doing well today and maybe if they want, they can reconnect with each other.
I will conclude saying this. If you or anyone reading this has been affected by sexual violence or abuse, weather as an adult or kid, please get help and tell anybody now. I have provided the information of a phone number and online chat that the documentary show. Call 1-800-656-4673 if you are affected.
