When did Jake Roberts debut in AEW?

Jake Roberts made his official AEW debut in March 2020 during the spring season. He confronted Cody Rhodes in the ring, delivering a memorable debut promo that kicked off a six-year run that would ultimately fizzle out by the time of his departure.

Who did Jake Roberts manage in AEW?

Jake Roberts served as the manager and legendary advisor for Lance Archer, a six-foot-eight powerhouse in AEW. Archer did not need to speak because Roberts cut promos for him, establishing the duo as a formidable pair designed to dominate the company.

How did Lance Archer's TNT Championship tournament run end?

Lance Archer reached the finals of the TNT Championship tournament after defeating Colt Cabana and Dustin Rhodes in April 2020. However, he lost in the finals at Double or Nothing on May 23, 2020, to Cody Rhodes, who pinned him after hitting two Cross Rhodes.

When did Lance Archer win the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship?

Lance Archer won the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship on July 21, 2021, during Fyter Fest Night 2. He defeated Jon Moxley in a brutal 14-minute Texas Death Match where he slammed Moxley through barbed wire tables to capture the title.

Why did Lance Archer struggle to maintain momentum in AEW?

Despite his imposing size and Jake Roberts' advocacy, Lance Archer suffered repeated losses in high-profile matches. After losing tournaments and title shots, he fell into a pattern of defeating local competitors on dark shows but losing whenever he received a major match on Dynamite.

AEW letting Jake Roberts walk away is another classic booking failure

Pour me a double of whatever cheap whiskey is on the speed rail. Keep the ice out, and do not even think about bringing me a coaster.

We need to talk about Jake "The Snake" Roberts. The legend just packed up his snakeskin boots and officially left All Elite Wrestling. It is the end of a six-year run that started like a house on fire and finished like a wet match in a hurricane.

A Promising Start That Left Us Wanting More

Let us throw our minds back to the spring of March 2020. Cody Rhodes was standing in the ring, acting like the savior of professional wrestling. Out walked Jake Roberts, and the world stopped spinning.

He did not need a physical snake in a bag. He did not need to hit a DDT. He just grabbed the microphone, stared down Cody, and cut a promo that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

He told Cody he was not there to take the whole pie, just his share. As Ringside News reported at the time, this debut shook the entire wrestling world.

It was a masterclass in villainy. It was the veteran showing the young bucks how to command an arena with a whisper instead of a scream. Then came the client.

Enter Lance Archer, the six-foot-eight giant ready to tear through the roster. It was the perfect pairing of brains and raw, unadulterated violence.

Archer was a terrifying monster who did not need to talk because Jake did all the whispering for him. They had the booking world in their hands. They looked ready to dominate the company.

The Slow Fade to Catering

So what did AEW do with this monster and his legendary advisor? They put them in the TNT Championship tournament right away.

Archer ran through Colt Cabana on April 15, 2020. He dismantled Dustin Rhodes with a brutal EBD Claw on April 29, 2020, to reach the tournament finals.

But then he lost. Cody Rhodes beat him in the finals at Double or Nothing on May 23, 2020, after hitting two Cross Rhodes for the pinfall.

The air immediately started leaking out of the balloon. Archer recovered by winning the Casino Battle Royale at All Out in September 2020.

That led to a world title shot against Jon Moxley on the October 14, 2020 episode of Dynamite. Moxley hit a double-arm DDT to secure the win after a wild brawl.

Archer lost again. It became a pattern that defined his entire run.

He would return, squash three local competitors on dark shows, get a big match on Dynamite, and lose. How are fans supposed to believe in a monster who cannot win the big one?

The Missed Opportunities and Strange Extensions

The brightest spot of the run came on July 21, 2021, at Fyter Fest Night 2. Archer beat Jon Moxley in a Texas Death Match for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.

It was a total bloodbath. Archer slammed Moxley through barbed wire tables and used a fork to bloody his forehead before winning in the 14th minute of the match.

We thought this was the turning point. We thought Jake and Archer were finally going to run the show and dominate the main event.

Instead, the title was dropped back to Hiroshi Tanahashi a month later. It was back to square one, and the momentum was gone.

Then came the feud with Hangman Page in February 2022. Another Texas Deathmatch, another loss for the big man after a Buckshot Lariat through a table.

After that, Archer and Jake vanished from regular television. They were relegated to Rampage, Ring of Honor, or just sitting at home.

In May 2024, we got the news that Roberts had renewed his AEW contract. The renewal extended his stay, but did nothing for his television time.

We all wondered why. Why pay a legendary talker to sit in the back and eat cold chicken tenders?

Maybe he was helping the young talent behind the scenes. Maybe he was giving promo classes to the undercard.

But wrestling fans want to see Jake Roberts on television. We want the menace, the cold stare, and the dark psychological promos that made him famous.

Instead, we got nothing. For two years, he was a ghost on the weekly shows.

The Quiet Exit and What Comes Next

Now, in July 2026, the run is over. Jake confirmed the news himself in an interview with Bill Apter.

Loved it. Loved it. I just finished up working for him. I’m no longer employed by AEW. He is awesome. He really is. A breath of fresh air.

According to Ringside News, Jake left with no bad blood. He had nothing but praise for Tony Khan.

But as a fan, I am frustrated. Jake Roberts spent six years under contract and we barely got two years of active storylines.

This is the classic Tony Khan problem. He collects legends like action figures, plays with them for a month, and then puts them on the shelf.

Look at Tully Blanchard. Look at Vickie Guerrero. Look at Arn Anderson.

They all came in with massive fanfare. They all cut great promos and brought instant credibility to their clients.

Then they all quietly drifted away when the creative team lost interest. It is a waste of money and a waste of fan attention.

Wrestling is a weekly soap opera. You cannot expect fans to care about a character who appears once every six months.

Jake Roberts deserved better. Lance Archer deserved better.

Archer is a physical freak who can do moonsaults at nearly three hundred pounds. With Jake in his corner, he should have had a run as AEW World Champion.

Instead, he is just another guy on the roster, occasionally showing up to lose in the midcard.

Jake is seventy-one years old. He does not have time to waste sitting in catering while his talent is ignored.

If this is the end of his time in major promotions, it is a disappointing finish. He should have gone out with a massive storyline, not a quiet contract expiration.

But at least he got paid. And at least he left happy without burning any bridges.

As for the fans? We are left wondering what could have been if AEW actually knew how to book a monster and his manager.

Pull me another draft. I need to wash down the disappointment of what could have been a legendary run.