Pat Patterson

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Pat Patterson
Miami, Florida, U.S.
PartnerLouie Dondero (1958–1998) (Dondero's death)[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Lord Patrick Patterson[2]
Pat Andrews[3]
Pat Patterson[4]
Billed height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[4]
Billed weight237 lb (108 kg)[4]
Billed fromMontreal, Quebec, Canada[4]
San Francisco, California
Trained byLoisirs Saint Jean Baptiste[1]
Debut1958[5][4]
RetiredJune 25, 2000

Pat Patterson (born Pierre Clermont; January 19, 1941 – December 2, 2020) was a Canadian-American

class of 1996
.

In 2019, Patterson became the oldest person to win a title in WWE history, after winning the WWE 24/7 Championship at age 78.[4][5][6] He was described by journalist Dave Meltzer as "Vince McMahon's right-hand man" and "one of the chief architects of the WWE, playing an integral role in helping it become a global phenomenon".[7]

Early life

Patterson was born into an impoverished

altar boy. He expressed an interest to a priest in becoming one himself, but was advised it would not have worked, because he was "too adventurous".[5]

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1958–1962)

Patterson debuted in Montreal, Quebec in 1958, wrestling at the Palais des Sports for promoter Sylvio Samson.[8] Early in his career, he performed as "Killer" Pat Patterson.[9]

Big Time Wrestling (Boston) (1961)

In 1961, Patterson - despite speaking no English - immigrated to the United States to pursue his professional wrestling career. He eventually became a

Boston, Massachusetts. While living and working in Boston, Patterson met his long-term partner, Louie Dondero.[1][8]

Pacific Northwest Wrestling (1962–1965)

In 1962, Patterson was recruited by

Mad Dog Vachon for Don Owen's Portland, Oregon-based Pacific Northwest Wrestling promotion. At the encouragement of PNW promoter Harry Elliot, who was aware of Patterson's homosexuality, Patterson developed the character of "Pretty Boy" Pat Patterson, an effeminate wrestler who wore lipstick, sunglasses, and a beret and carried a cigarette holder.[1] In 1963, Patterson wrestled for promotions in Texas, Arizona and Oklahoma as part of a talent exchange organized by Owen.[1] Patterson returned to Pacific Northwest Wrestling in 1964.[1] He held the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship on two occasions that year. On October 2, 1964, Patterson defeated Pepper Martin for the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship. He held the championship for six weeks before losing to Martin. Patterson won the championship again in 1965 and 1966.[10]

Big Time Wrestling (San Francisco) (1965–1977)

Patterson standing in a corner of the ring in 1975.

In January 1965, Patterson was hired by Roy Shire for his

NWA Western States Wrestling in Amarillo, Texas as Lord Patrick Patterson, winning the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship and NWA Brass Knuckles Championship.[2] In the same year, he undertook a six-week tour of Japan, facing Antonio Inoki in a series of bouts.[8]

After Stevens turned

Lars Anderson, who was managed by Dr. Ken Ramey. Later that year, he teamed with Rocky Johnson and won the tag team championship. In 1975 and 1981, Patterson won the Cow Palace Battle Royal in San Francisco.[citation needed
]

Championship Wrestling from Florida (1977)

In 1977, Patterson wrestled for

Tampa, Florida-based Championship Wrestling from Florida promotion. During his run, he won the NWA Florida Television Championship and the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship, as well as briefly serving as booker.[14][10]

American Wrestling Association (1978–1983)

In 1978, Patterson joined Verne Gagne's Minneapolis, Minnesota-based American Wrestling Association. He reformed The Blond Bombers with Ray Stevens, with the duo winning the AWA World Tag Team Championship later that year. Patterson performed intermittently for the AWA until 1983.[8]

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1979)

In 1979, Patterson toured Japan with New Japan Pro-Wrestling.[citation needed]

Lutte Internationale (1980–1983)

Patterson made his professional return to Quebec in 1980, wrestling a number of bouts for the Montreal, Quebec-based Lutte Internationale promotion. He held the Canadian International Tag Team Championship on five occasions between 1980 and 1983.[citation needed]

World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE (1979–2020)

North American Champion (1979)

In 1979, Patterson debuted in the

WWF North American Champion Ted DiBiase and WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund. During a television taping on June 19 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Patterson defeated DiBiase for the WWF North American Championship by using a pair of brass knuckles to knock out DiBiase. Patterson was unsuccessful, however, in winning the WWF Heavyweight Championship from Backlund.[citation needed
]

Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion and retirement (1979–1984)

In September 1979, the WWF would introduce the

April Fool's joke. On November 8, Patterson dropped the North American title to Seiji Sakaguchi.[citation needed
]

It was during Patterson's reign as champion that he turned face, after a botched attempt by the Grand Wizard to "sell" Patterson's contract to

Sporadic roles (1984–1997)

Patterson began doing color commentary in 1980 with Vince McMahon, calling WWF Championship Wrestling from 1980 to 1984. While Patterson was a face commentator when partnered with Gorilla Monsoon and Vince McMahon, he hosted a heel interview segment for French WWF broadcasts known as "Le Brunch de Pat", where he would politely ask questions in English but furtively mock his face guests in French. Patterson was on commentary with Monsoon when The Iron Sheik defeated Bob Backlund for the world heavyweight championship, as well as for when Hulk Hogan defeated The Iron Sheik about a month later. Patterson was also calling the action when Jimmy Snuka jumped off the steel cage and splashed Don Muraco in Madison Square Garden in 1983.[citation needed]

Patterson retired from wrestling in 1985. Although retired, Patterson continued to occasionally wrestle. On January 26, 1985, he wrestled Nikolai Volkoff in a losing effort in a house show in Cincinnati, Ohio.[15] The following month, he teamed with Andre the Giant at a pair of house shows in Canada and defeated Ken Patera and Big John Studd.

He took the spot of Mad Dog Vachon on the WWF skit show Le Brunch on WWF Superstars in Canada until late summer in 1987. Several wrestlers like the Rougeau Brothers and Dino Bravo replaced him, and Frenchie Martin hosted Le Studio as a replacement of Le Brunch. Before that he made another appearance, this time in a battle royal in Montreal on February 24, 1987. He also appeared in a battle royal at a house show in Buffalo, New York on December 27. Patterson made a handful of additional appearances in Montreal in 1987, wrestling as a heel (while remaining a face or neutral backstage official in the United States and elsewhere in Canada). His most notable appearance was a win over the up-and-coming Brutus Beefcake on August 10 in Montreal[16] His final match would come three weeks later again in Montreal as he fell in defeat to Beefcake and subsequently received a haircut with Mr. T as the referee.[citation needed]

He began working backstage as a

booking the Royal Rumble match. In the late 1990s, he also worked in the talent-relations department.[7][17] After his retirement, Patterson also worked as a WWF referee. He was selected as the in-ring referee for the main event at the first WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden on March 31, 1985, as well as the main event of WrestleMania XI.[citation needed] In 1992, Patterson, along with Terry Garvin, were accused of sexual harassment of underage ring boys by former announcer Murray Hodgson, and former ring boy Tom Cole, who alleged that Patterson groped him and engaged in sexual harassment when he was 14.[18][19] Both he and Garvin resigned from the company.[20] After Murray Hodgson rescinded the allegations, he was rehired, while Garvin was fired, later reaching a settlement with WWF.[21]

"Stooge" (1997–2000)

Crash Holly and Pat Patterson at the WWF King of the Ring at the Fleet Center in Boston, MA in 2000.

In 1997, Patterson, along with

stooges of Vince McMahon, assisting their boss in his rivalries with Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mankind and The Rock. Patterson and Brisco were among the founding members of The Corporation. In order to mock Hulk Hogan, they used "Real American" as their entrance music and parodied Hogan's flexing routine as they approached the ring. On the May 18, 1998 episode of Raw, Patterson and Brisco competed in a 2 on 1 Street Fight against Austin that ended in a no contest when Vince McMahon and Dude Love attacked Austin.[citation needed
]

Later in 1999, the two became entangled with the McMahon-Helmsley Faction. On the December 16, 1999 episode of SmackDown, Patterson and Brisco helped

The New Age Outlaws
or be fired. Patterson and Brisco lost the match. In 2000, Patterson and Brisco joined Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.

On the May 8 episode of Raw, Patterson,

Stink Face to Rikishi with brown-stained underwear, which commentator Jim Ross
described as a "tractor-sized skidmark". Patterson began to use the soiled underwear as part of his gimmick in the coming weeks, attempting to rub the soiled underwear into the faces of opponents. As a result, WWE commentators began to refer to Patterson as “Poopstain Patterson” during the broadcasts.

On June 12, 2000, when the Faction unmasked Kane, Patterson photographed Kane's "hideously scarred" face, and threatened to "expose him to the world" if he did not comply. Kane was forced to wrestle The Rock (then his ally) in a No Holds Barred match. When Patterson's film did not develop properly, Kane turned on the Faction.[citation needed]

On June 19, 2000, Patterson helped Brisco win the perpetually contested

champagne and then breaking a second bottle over Brisco's head, and pinning the (kayfabe) unconscious champion. Brisco pursued Patterson into the women's locker room, where Patterson was hiding in drag. Subsequently, Vince McMahon scheduled them to fight over the Hardcore Championship in an Evening Gown match at King of the Ring 2000; in the course of the match, Crash Holly attacked both men and pinned Patterson to become Hardcore Champion.[22][self-published source?][23][self-published source?
]

Backstage roles (2000–2020)

Patterson (right) holding the WWE Intercontinental Championship with Rob Van Dam looking on.

The Intercontinental Championship, unified with the

Legends' House.[citation needed
]

On July 22, 2019, during the Raw Reunion episode, Patterson won the WWE 24/7 Championship by pinning Drake Maverick backstage. He would lose the title to Gerald Brisco off-screen later that same night. At 78 years old, he became the oldest person ever to win a title in WWE history, beating The Fabulous Moolah's fourth reign with the original WWF Women's Championship at 76 years old. It was also Patterson's first title reign since June 19, 2000, with the similarly introduced WWF Hardcore Championship, which also used the "24/7 rule". He was only the second person ever to win both the 24/7 and Hardcore Championships.[citation needed] He was working backstage as a WWE official from 2005 until his death in 2020.[citation needed]

Personal life

Patterson was openly

WWE Legends' House, which aired June 12, 2014.[27] NBC News described Patterson as "the first openly gay pro wrestling star."[28] People magazine described him as the "First Gay Wrestling Star."[29]

In the 1960s, after the end of the main part of the

United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations were investigating another wrestler suspected of being gay, with a view to discharging him;[30][31] this wrestler subsequently denounced Patterson to INS before retracting.[30] In November 1966, the INS initiated deportation proceedings against Patterson,[30][32] leading to an interview where he was asked about his effeminacy, dyed hair, about whether he was a homosexual and whether "he molested little boys".[30][33] In December 1966, Patterson was served with a deportation notice, requiring him to leave the United States on or before January 10,[30][34] possibly as an attempt to dupe Patterson into leaving with an expectation of an easy green card but with the intention of excluding him through psychological exam;[30] however Patterson was fighting again in Arizona 4 days later.[30] After Patterson's application for a green card in 1971, the journalist's dossier of Freedom of Information responses showed nothing further until his successful naturalization in 2002.[30]

Patterson's longtime partner was Louie Dondero.

coronary artery.[14] In October, Patterson recovered from his operation and was released from the hospital.[24] He legally changed his name to Pat Patterson in 2008.[1]

Death

Patterson died of liver failure caused by a blood clot at a

Miami, Florida, hospital on December 2, 2020.[37] He was 79 years old.[38][39]
Many figures in the wrestling world paid their respects to Patterson, as both an in-ring performer and as a behind-the-scenes figure.

Bibliography

  • Accepted: How the First Gay Superstar Changed WWE (August 9, 2016)

Championships and accomplishments

Patterson was the first WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion, shown here with the championship belt at WrestleMania 31.

See also

References

  1. ^ .
  2. ^ .
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Pat Patterson". Canoe.com. Postmedia Network. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Pat Patterson". WWE.com. WWE. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  5. ^ .
  6. ^ a b "Pat Patterson's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  7. ^ .
  8. ^ .
  9. .
  10. ^ .
  11. .
  12. .
  13. .
  14. ^ .
  15. ^ "85". The History of WWE. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  16. ^ "87". The History of WWE. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  17. .
  18. .
  19. ^ "Wrestling Perspective: Tom Cole Interview Part 1". wrestlingperspective.com. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  20. ^ Pollock, John (February 14, 2021). "Tom Cole, at center of the WWF's '90s scandal, passes away". POST Wrestling | WWE AEW NXT NJPW Podcasts, News, Reviews. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  21. ^ "Pat Patterson, creative genius behind WWE booking, dead at 79". Newsweek. December 2, 2020.
  22. ]
  23. ]
  24. ^ a b Brady, Hicks. "2006: The year in wrestling". PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts. Kappa Publications. p. 27. 2007 Edition.
  25. WWE Legends' House. Season 1. Episode 2. June 12, 2014. WWE Network. Archived
    from the original on December 13, 2021.
  26. on June 16, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  27. ^ Haynes, Danielle (June 14, 2014). "Pat Patterson, WWE legend, says he's gay". United Press International. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  28. ^ Syed, Mohammed; Li, David K. (December 2, 2020). "Pat Patterson, the first openly gay pro wrestling star, has died at 79". NBC News. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  29. ^ DeSantis, Rachel (December 2, 2020). "WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson, the First Gay Wrestling Star, Dies at 79: 'A True Trailblazer'". People. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Bixenspan, David (October 19, 2021). "The Government's Gay Witch Hunt of Pat Patterson". MEL Magazine. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  31. ^ a b "1965-04-14 Summary of witness interviews (Pat Patterson alien file)". Immigration and Naturalization Service. April 14, 1965. Retrieved October 20, 2021 – via DocumentCloud.
  32. ^ "1966-11-18 Notice of hearing citing itinerary violation (Pat Patterson alien file)". Immigration and Naturalization Service. November 18, 1966. Retrieved October 20, 2021 – via DocumentCloud.
  33. ^ "1966-11-29 Summary of deportation hearing (Pat Patterson alien file)". Immigration and Naturalization Service. November 29, 1966. Retrieved October 20, 2021 – via DocumentCloud.
  34. ^ "1966-12-20 Deportation notice (Pat Patterson alien file)". Immigration and Naturalization Service. December 20, 1966. Retrieved October 20, 2021 – via DocumentCloud.
  35. . Patterson is proud that he was able to stay on top for so long, and the city was home for many years to him and his life partner, Louis Dondero.
  36. Us
    . Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  37. Web Is Jericho
    . Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  38. ^ "Tony Marinaro on Twitter: "Just got a text from my buddy Rodger Brulotte letting me know that legendary wrestler Pat Patterson of @WWE passed away earlier this morning in a Miami hospital. Patterson, had cancer. He was 79. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. RIP. #WWE"". Twitter. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  39. ^ "WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson passes away". WWE. December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  40. ^ Johns, Fred (June 10, 2008). "In awe at my first Cauliflower Alley Club reunion". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved September 27, 2020.

External links