Thunderbolt Patton to be inducted in WWE Hall of Fame in todays Wrestling news
Patterson joins Bull Nakano and Muhammad Ali in this year’s class.
Thunderbolt Patterson was announced as the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2024.
The US Express, Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano and Muhammad Ali have all been confirmed as participants for this year’s award ceremony.
Andscape was the first to report on the 82-year old’s induction. They noted that Patterson was a champion for equal pay and better wrestling rights.
From Andscape.com
Claude “Thunderbolt”, a Black professional wrestler, who was blacklisted in the 1970s from one of the biggest promotions, in part because of deeply ingrained racism, will be inducted next month into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Patterson was well-known for his catchphrases like “We’re gonna get funky” and his style, which was often imitated by other wrestlers including the legendary Dusty Rhodes.
Patterson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, in 1999: “I invented the shuck-and-jive” style.
Patterson’s career in wrestling began in 1964. After starting in Texas with Dory Funk, Patterson worked several NWA territories. He formed a tag team with Jerry Brisco in 1973 and beat Gene and Ole Anderson to win the NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Titles.
Brisco once said to Patterson, “This was Dusty Rhodes’ American dream.” “The American dream began before Dusty Rhodes.”
The Sheik was defeated by Patterson in 1976 to win the NWA United States Championship at Maple Leaf Gardens (the Toronto version). However, he lost it to The Sheik again the following month.
He won the NWA Brass Knuckles title several times. This includes the Florida, Tri-State and Amarillo belts. He won the NWA National Tag Titles with Ole Anderson once in 1985, before Anderson turned against him and started a feud.
Andscape’s Report continues:
Patterson’s business was halted after only a decade. In the 1970s, Patterson’s bookings started to dry up because of his unwavering attitude towards his humanity and working conditions. He advocated a more equitable pay system for promoters, and better rights for wrestlers. After Patterson retired in 1985 he lobbied for state governments to regulate wrestlers as they do boxing. This included ringside doctors, which WWE employs today.
Patterson was also involved in a racial-discrimination lawsuit filed against WCW by the same year. The lawsuit was settled out of court.
In 2019, Patterson was inducted in the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame for Professional Wrestling.
“I give all to God, because I never could have imagined that I would be inducted one day into the Hall of Fame,” said he in an interview with The Post and Courier about his induction.
“It is one of the highest honours, but you have to start somewhere to get to the top.”
Patterson was ordained as a minister after his career. He also worked in Atlanta as a labor activist.
WWE.com:
Andscape was the first to report that Thunderbolt Patterson would be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame class of 2024.
Patterson was a hugely influential figure in sports entertainment history, but he is often overlooked. His captivating abilities on the mic inspired a whole generation of talkers who followed in his footsteps.
Patterson grew up in Iowa and moved to Texas where he worked with legendary promoter Dory Funk, Sr. (father of WWE Hall of Famers Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk). He began giving incredible interviews by using a delivery that was inspired by Black Southern Pastors.
Patterson backed his talents in the ring up with titles across North America, while defeating legendary opponents like Bruiser brody and WWE Hall of Famer The Sheik. Thunderbolt, who was also a decorated team competitor, was most famously teamed with Ole Anderson, before their partnership turned into a brutal battle that helped launch the legendary Four Horsemen.
Patterson was a contemporary of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes and is often credited for inspiring The American Dream’s charismatic persona.
Patterson’s talent as a performer was obvious, but he also was a passionate advocate for the health of competitors and their welfare outside the ring.
His legacy as a performer, with his signature quick-punches, his incredible combination of power and speed and his compassion for fellow man, lives on today as his influence is still seen in the ring.
Thunderbolt Patton to be inducted in WWE Hall of Fame in todays Wrestling news, Chatalong Chatbox, Results will be Hidden inside a spoiler Button so you will not bet spoiled about direct results.
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