Pat Patterson

Pierre Clemont (born January 19, 1941 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian former professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Pat Patterson. He is currently working for World Wrestling Entertainment as a Producer.

Career
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 one of the most notorious heel tag teams of the era, 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 1975 and 1981, Patterson won the Cow Palace Battle Royal in San Francisco. The Battle Royal, an event held annually throughout the 1970s, is often cited as the predecessor of the Royal Rumble.

World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment
In 1979 Pat Patterson debuted in the then World Wide Wrestling Federation, and on June 19 of that year he defeated Ted DiBiase to win the WWF North American Championship. On September 15, 1979, Patterson allegedly won a tournament held in Rio de Janeiro, unifying the WWF North American Championship with the "South American Championship" to create the WWF Intercontinental Championship in the process. It is, however, widely believed that the aforementioned tournament never actually took place and was invented to add legitimacy to the Intercontinental Championship. In later years, Patterson apparently made an inside joke for "smark" fans by wearing a T-shirt bearing the legend "Rio de Janeiro 1979" while on camera. Patterson held the Intercontinental Championship until April 21, 1980 when he was defeated by Ken Patera in New York City, New York. The match ended in controversial fashion after Patterson placed his right leg on the ropes just before the three count was made.

On April 6, 1981, Patterson's feud with Sergeant Slaughter culminated in an "Alley Fight" in Madison Square Garden. The match is regarded as one of the best of the 1980s, and won the Wrestling Observer Newsletter award for Worked Match of the Year.

Patterson retired from active wrestling in 1984, and became a color commentator, as well as hosting an interview segment known as "Le brunch de Pat", where he would politely ask questions in English but furtively mock his guests in French. He began working backstage as a road agent and right-hand man to WWF promoter Vince McMahon, and is credited with inventing and booking the Royal Rumble match.

In 1992 Patterson was accused of sexual harassment, and released from the company until the charges were dropped, when he was promptly rehired.

In 1997 Patterson became an onscreen "stooge" of Vince McMahon, turning heel as a result of his involvement in the Montreal Screwjob. He and Gerald Brisco became comedy heels, aiding Vince in his rivalries with Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mankind and The Rock. Patterson and Brisco were members of both The Corporation and The McMahon-Helmsley Faction, and used the Rick Derringer power ballad "Real American" as their entrance music to mock Hulk Hogan. They would also parody Hogan's flexing routine as they approached the ring.

On June 12, 2000 the McMahon-Helmsley Faction briefly gained control over Kane after they unmasked him, enabling Patterson to photograph his "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. However, the film did not develop properly, and Kane turned on the Faction.

Patterson became the oldest WWF Hardcore Champion ever on June 19, 2000 after blinding reigning champion Gerald Brisco with champagne and then breaking a second bottle over Brisco's head. On June 25 at King of the Ring 2000 Patterson defended the Championship against Brisco in an hardcore evening gown match booked by Vince McMahon after Patterson and Brisco brawled in the women's locker room. In the course of the match, Crash Holly attacked both men and pinned Patterson to become Hardcore Champion.

The Intercontinental Championship, unified with the World Heavyweight Championship on October 20, 2002, was resurrected on May 18, 2003 at Judgment Day in a Battle Royale. Patterson, as the first ever Intercontinental Champion, was at ringside to present the belt to the victor. Booker T eliminated Christian for the win, but the referee was unconscious. As Patterson attempted to give the belt to Booker T, Christian attacked him, stole the belt and used it to knock out Booker T. The referee then recovered and awarded the match to Christian.

In October 2004 Patterson resigned from World Wrestling Entertainment after claiming that too much time was being devoted to Triple H, the son-in-law of Vince McMahon. This claim of nepotism reflected the beliefs of many smarks. Patterson returned to the WWE in a limited capacity in May 2005. On August 7, 2006 wwe.com reported that Patterson had undergone emergency heart surgery to remove a large cyst from his main artery. On August 15, 2006 wwe.com further reported that Patterson had recovered from his operation and would soon be released from hospital. While he is now retired as a producer for WWE, he still acts as a consultant.

Wrestling facts

 * Finishing and signature moves
 * Atomic drop
 * Stinkface (post-retirement)
 * Sleeper hold
 * Figure four leglock
 * Flying knee drop
 * Headbutt


 * Managers
 * The Grand Wizard of Wrestling


 * Nicknames
 * Killer
 * Pretty Boy

Championships and accomplishments

 * American Wrestling Association
 * AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Ray Stevens


 * International Wrestling Alliance
 * IWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Art Nelson


 * National Wrestling Alliance
 * National
 * NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
 * NWA International Tag Team Championship (4 times) - with Raymond Rougeau
 * NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Amarillo version) (1 time)
 * NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Los Angeles/Japan version) (1 time) - with Johnny Powers
 * NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (San Francisco version) (5 times)


 * Regional
 * NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Amarillo version) (1 time)
 * NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Ivan Koloff
 * NWA Florida Television Championship (1 time)
 * NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
 * NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Tony Borne (1) and The Hangman (1)
 * NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (9 times) - with Superstar Billy Graham (1), Pedro Morales (1), Pepper Gomez (1), Peter Maivia (1), Moondog Mayne (1), Rocky Johnson (3), and Tony Garea (1),


 * Pro Wrestling Illustrated
 * PWI Ranked him #110 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI Years (2003)


 * World Wrestling Federation
 * WWF Hardcore Championship (1 time)
 * WWF Intercontinental Championship (1 time)
 * WWF North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
 * WWE Hall of Famer (inducted in 1996)


 * Wrestling Observer
 * 1981 Match of the Year (versus Sergeant Slaughter)
 * 2000 Worst Match of the Year (versus Gerald Brisco)
 * Wrestling Observer Hall of Famer (inducted in 1996)

Personal life
Patterson's alleged homosexuality is considered one of the worst kept secrets in professional wrestling. Announcer Jim Ross made disparaging remarks like "he's single, fellas", "that is the largest man that has ever been on top of Pat Patterson" (after Patterson was splashed by Viscera), and that he "does rear-end work at the Brisco Brothers Auto Body Shop in Tampa, Florida". Also Sherri Martel said at the 2006 Hall of fame induction ceremony: "Pat Patterson kept more men in his life than I did."

He currently owns a set of Volvo and Suzuki automobile dealerships in Memphis, Tennessee.

He is the godfather of Stephanie McMahon-Levesque.