Pierre Clermont, better known by his ring name PAT PATTERSON, is a Canadian former wrestler born on this date (d: 2020); He works for WWE as a “creative” consultant. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996. He is credited by WWE as the first Intercontinental Champion.
Pat Patterson debuted in Montreal, Quebec in 1958 as “Pretty Boy” Pat Patterson, an effeminate wrestler who wore red lipstick and pink trunks and was accompanied by his pet poodle. Patterson wrestled frequently for affiliates of the National Wrestling Alliance throughout the 1960s, and was a ten time tag team champion in San Francisco with a variety of partners. His most famous pairing was with Ray Stevens, the two of them forming the heel tag team, the Blond Bombers. Also, in San Francisco, Patterson was a six-time United States Champion.
In 1970 and 1971, Patterson wore a mask during his matches, and would cheat by placing a foreign object under the mask to add power to his head butts. In 1972, Patterson turned baby-face, after feuding with 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. In 1992, Patterson was accused of sexual harassment by former ring announcer Murray Hodgson. He was released from the company until the charges were dropped, when he was promptly rehired.
Patterson came out in 2008. He had been in the closet for over 50 years. His life partner, now deceased, Louis Dondero was on payroll with WWF for a while as a “counselor.”