WWE is set to air a new documentary on the life and career of the late wrestling legend Pat Patterson on January 24 on its streaming service, WWE Network. In an announcement, WWE stated, “If it wasn’t for Pat Patterson’s creative vision, there would be no Royal Rumble Match. Explore the late WWE Hall of Famer’s immense contributions to sports-entertainment, both in the ring and behind the scenes, in this new documentary.”
The pro wrestler died of liver failure caused by a blood clot at a Miami, Florida, hospital on December 2 at the age of 79. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on January 19, 1941, he started training to wrestle at the age of 14 at Loisirs Saint Jean Baptiste. He made his debut in 1958, wrestling at the Palais des Sports for promoter Sylvio Samson, where he performed as "Killer" Pat Patterson.
Described Patterson as "the first openly gay pro wrestling star,” his longtime partner was Louie Dondero, who was by his side for 40 years until he died of a heart attack on June 28, 1998. The creator of the Royal Rumble, he was part of the “Stooges” with Gerald Brisco during the Attitude Era.
The first WWE Intercontinental Champion, Patterson was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2019, hebecame the oldest person to ever win a title in WWE history, after winning the WWE 24/7 Championship at 78 years old. All in all, he worked for WWF/WWE from 1979 to 2020.
Although he retired from wrestling in in 1984, he continued to wrestle sporadically. On January 26, 1985, he wrestled Nikolai Volkoff in a losing effort in a house show in Cincinnati, Ohio. The following month, he teamed with Andre the Giant at shows in his native Canada and defeated Ken Patera and Big John Studd. He was the second person to win both the 24/7 and Hardcore Championships. Until his death, he worked backstage as a WWE official from 2005.
Source: Wrestling News