Posted on 12/02/2020 11:57:04 AM PST by massmike
WWE is saddened to learn that Pat Patterson has passed away at age 79.
Patterson began his career in 1958 in his native Canada before becoming a fixture in the Bay Area for nearly two decades. After winning the AWA Tag Team Championship with Ray Stevens in 1978, Patterson moved on to WWE. Under the tutelage of The Grand Wizard, Patterson made an immediate impact and became the first Intercontinental Champion in September 1979. Patterson’s most legendary WWE rivalry was undoubtedly his war with Sgt. Slaughter, which captivated the WWE Universe with Boot Camp Matches and a brutal Alley Fight at Madison Square Garden.
(Excerpt) Read more at wwe.com ...
RIP.
what was Nick Bockwinkle’s relationship with the AWA? He never transitioned to the WWE, did he?
I saw that Rafer Johnson has also passed.
RIP...
I remember him doing commentary for a short time in the WWF in the mid-80’s.
79? That’s a ripe old old age for a professional wrestler. They usually die in their 60s.
The body slams and the pile drivers may be fake, but they do take an enormous toll on the human body.
Yeah, but not as a wrestler; he worked in booking if I recall, and did some color commentary in place of Bobby Heenan a few times. He did wrestle a “Legends” card a couple of times (once with WCW and once with WWF) but for the most part stayed in the back-office, even trying to get a shoot-promotion to fly in Japan.
Used to watch Roller Derby and Big Time Wrestling on Sunday. Before them, I found The World At War, a fine documentary on early morning—worth it. Made sure to finish my paper route in time so I got to see it, new to me it was.
interesting....
WWE (in its various predecessor entities/manifestations) was nothing if not aggressive in luring/recruiting/poaching talent.....
I’m an old school NWA guy myself. But watching all that WWE has done over the years is sort of like considering the merits of deep libertarianism versus deep conservatism.
Conservatism is best, but it tends to stagnation; libertarianism drives innovation, but it tends to destruction.
All that said, many if not most of the old school wrestlers had runs in the WWE and were able to get paid, some past their prime, better than they would have been if they had stayed on sinking ships. I guess I’m grateful for that.
McMahon is nothing if not innovative.
And by way of full disclosure....I am a shareholder of WWE. But I consider it a media/social media play. I honestly don’t even follow the performances.
I remember Pat Patterson from when we were kids and watched Big Time Wrestling in the Bay Area.
He was a good guy.
He was the long time AWA champion. But, he was in 50s, though, when the WWE took off and too old to get a huge contract by switching over.
Young male wrestlers can breath easy now that Pat is no longer there to force them into sexual favors.
Far as I can tell, there's nothing 'brutal' about WWE wrestling.
Vince turned wrestling in a comic book and destroyed it. The old NWA was pro wrestling at its best -- a blood-and-guts sports soap opera. Ric Flair said it best when said younger wrestlers had to "sweat, bleed and pay the price."
That’s a legitimate perspective. Not the only perspective, but it’s a legitimate one. And for the most part, one I share.
yah, I was sort of wondering if he was a performer/owner in the AWA and curious if he had any sort of deal to work with the up and coming WWE/F
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