Lance Archer Explains Benefits Of Relationship With Jake Roberts (Exclusive)

Speaking in an interview with WrestleTalk, AEW star Lance Archer discussed his relationship with Jake Roberts both on-screen and off.

Archer spoke about how it’s not just Roberts’ presence by his side on TV that helps him out, but also what he learns from him behind-the-scenes, as well as the other veterans that are backstage.

Archer said:

“You can’t help but take in the advice and the experience that Jake has, that Arn Anderson has, that Dean Malenko has, the Billy Gunns, Jerry Lynns, I mean the list goes on, Dustin (Rhodes). There’s so many guys behind-the-scenes that help the talent, myself included. I’m coming up on 21 years in wrestling, there’s always still something you can learn and being with somebody like Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts, it’s been invaluable to say the least.

“I believe that I’ve really come to know who the ‘Murderhawk Monster’ is, I know how to step in that ring, I know how to kick ass, I know how to do what I’m doing. Not to say that I can’t always learn something, and I always do, from the youngest talent on the card ton the most veteran vets that we have. But where Jake has truly been most beneficial for me is being able to speak. Being able to give the ‘Murderhawk Monster’ a voice.

“Because in Japan, it was just a chaotic character that went out, scared kids, hit the Young Lions, and threw water at people, just an insane monster that beat the crap out of people, and then when we did interviews backstage it was very raw, emotional and very chaotic like I said. But in Japan, some people understand me to a small degree, but for the most part, they’re just reading and feeling the energy. Come back to the US, now they can hear what the heck I’m saying, so now I’ve gotta figure out how to give the ‘Murderhawk Monster’ a voice.

“Jake, who’s one of the best promos in the history of the business ever, he’s truly helped me find that voice, that cadence, that persona. And I’m not trying to be Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts, I’m definitely trying to be the ‘Murderhawk Monster’, but you can’t help but feel that vibe, that Jake ‘The Snake’ vibe, that smooth, cunning, ‘Imma cut you and you’re not gonna know it’, but then I throw in some Murderhawk, ‘I’m gonna rip your head off and spit down your throat’ type scenario.”

Lance Archer also spoke about how the relationship first came about, adding:

“It was a conversation we had prior to me debuting, and there were a few other options that were out there. But Jake to me, and I knew Jake, I’d known Jake for a long time, not knowing how Jake was now, and it’s awesome to see Jake in the great place that he is, both mentally and physically. Very well known, he’s had some issues in the past with substance abuse and things like that, and I’ve seen those, and I’ve seen him at some of his worst.

“They assured me that he was doing well, and obviously when he came in, and we’ve been around each other the entire time, he has been great, he has been well. And he’s a great human being to be around, and the fact that he’s been able to stay off that, and being a part of AEW and being with me and everything, I think helps motivate him to stay in that good place in his life. So yeah, when it was brought up that Jake could be a possible manager with me, I jumped at the chance because I knew his history, his style, his ability to talk, and that was the big thing.

“And again, I’ve been in the business for 21 years, I’ve wrestled with TNA back in the early 2000s, I had a short cup of coffee in WWE mid-2000s, back in 2009-2010, so I hadn’t actually been on US television or on that market for nearly a decade at this point. There are people, I remember when I debuted and they were like, ‘Oh my God, is that the rock and rave dude?’, some people were remembering from way back then 15 years ago and things like that.

“So adding Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts, a legend and icon in the business, who people absolutely knew, and have him be my mouthpiece at first, helped people figure out who I am. It helped reintroduce who Lance Archer is, the ‘Murderhawk Monster’ and all the things that go into capturing the people’s attention in the US market. Even though I’d already been there at one time, they only knew one part and they only knew one thing, and now this was an opportunity for them to rediscover me in a whole new way.”

Keep an eye on our exclusives page as we’ll be posting more stories from the interview in the coming days – we’ve already posted a story on Archer remembering Brodie Lee, and his thoughts on a potential AEW Super Heavyweight Championship.

Lance Archer challenges Miro for the TNT Championship on at Double Or Nothing on May 30, which is available on pay-per-view in the US and FITE internationally.

You can watch the full interview here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cJFbqwIUFI

What are your thoughts on the above story? Let us know in the comments on Twitter or Facebook.

• Lance Archer
• Jake Roberts
• Double or Nothing
• AEW

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