We've lost another legendary professional wrestler. We've lost a pioneering athlete. We've lost the creator of the Royal Rumble. We've lost the mind behind some of the greatest wrestling matches and stories ever played out. We've lost a man who always seemed to enjoy life. Pat Patterson has passed away.
This one hurt. 79 years is a long time for a wrestler to live, as sad as that statement is. Still, perhaps because of how well Patterson seemed to be able to detach himself from the wrestling life when he needed to, I expected that he would be around a lot longer. One of the most touching things from Legends House was not the big "reveal" that we all knew anyway. Instead it was to see how Patterson illustrated that as much as he loved the wrestling business, he knew when to pull back. He knew when to decompress and go back to being "Pierre Clermont," his given name. This was further explored in his autobiography released several years ago.
When discussing Mr. Patterson's death, a friend of mine recounted a story that I honestly didn't remember. He stated that when Patterson entered the room on the first occasion on which I had a chance to meet him, I led everyone in that room in a standing ovation. While I don't remember that exactly, I do believe it. I, like many others, had a great respect for the man. He thrived in so many facets of the business that we all love. Talk about someone responsible for great moments in our lives. How much joy have you gotten from the Royal Rumbles over the years? How about so many of those classic WrestleMania main events? And for those of you who were there for the classic Patterson-Ray Stevens tag team years, I envy you.
In addition to being involved in all corners of the wrestling business, he was also a master at both the serious and more comedic sides of the squared circle itself. While he could battle it out with the best of them in blood and guts battles such as his famous "Alley Fight" with Sgt. Slaughter, he also knew how to find the humor in it all. The names "Brisco and Patterson" would bring a smile to the face of almost anyone who was watching wrestling during "The Attitude Era."
Patterson released his aforementioned autobiography after a career of magazine and program covers, photos, and even trading cards. His heyday as a wrestler came just a bit before the big merchandising boom, but in one of the greatest moves that the company has made, Mattel finally released the first Pat Patterson action figure in 2019. Clad in attire reminiscent of his days as a "stooge" of Mr. McMahon, underneath was the classic Pat Patterson wrestling gear. I'm glad that the legend was able to see himself immortalized in plastic. It was a long time coming.
One of the best moments of Legends House is when Pat gets to croon his favorite karaoke tune, "My Way." We all had heard of Patterson's love for the song but it had never been documented. Thanks to the show we now have it captured for eternity. Thanks to you, Mr. Patterson, some of our own "ways" were all the brighter thanks to the entertainment you created. You will not be forgotten.
Pat Patterson
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