WWE Hall of Famer and the First Ever Intercontinental Champion Pat Patterson joined the “Multi-Time Award Winning” The Rack to discuss a wide range of topics. In the nearly 15 minute interview, Pat discussed his reasoning for writing the book, the creation of the Royal Rumble, thoughts on the Brand Split, why Dolph Ziggler has potential to be a big star in WWE, the Shawn Michaels-Bret Hart Iron Man match and so much more.
Listen Live Thursday Nights at 10pm ET on www.wildtalkradio.com & www.rackradioshow.com. Below are some interview highlights:
What he was trying to get across when writing the book:
“In the book I was trying to get across not so much the wrestling, it was about being gay and coming out and having such a hard time all of these years trying to hide, it is not fair. Over the years word got out obviously, but I wanted to come out. I wanted to say it.”
His love for professional wrestling and working with Vince McMahon:
“The business, it is my live, I love it. It is the greatest thing that ever happened to me. That’s what I wanted to be when I was young and even now today, I give my point of view about a certain talent and I have a good point of view and they listen. I have good ideas and they listen. When you work with Vince McMahon for so many years you have to be creative, you have to come up with ideas and sometimes Vince and I would sometimes go and argue and debate on a certain subject. I wasn’t there to be a yes man, I gave my point of view and I stood on it.”
Creating the Royal Rumble:
“When I came up with the Royal Rumble, Vince (McMahon) thought it was a stupid idea. I said it’s not, it’s going to work, oh my god give me a break, he didn’t want to do it. It is now one of our the best pay per views we have every year. It is fun and the talent likes it.”
On fighting to bring talents back to WWE:
“Vince and I would work very hard at getting talent back. Some of these guys would get fired over the years. They were talented, but they would do stupid things. One of them was Shawn Michaels and Vince (McMahon) didn’t want to hear nothing about him, in fact he is dead, Shawn Michaels is not coming back. Once in a while I would bring up his name. Shawn Michaels never called saying Pat could you get me in, he never called, I just wanted to convince Vince and then Shawn Michaels back. Another one was Bret Hart and another was Daniel Bryan. I fought for them. I didn’t tell them I did that for you, they found out on their own. I was fighting for these guys, everyone makes mistakes at one time or another, especially if you are talented. So most of these guys need advice, sometimes it goes in one ear and out the other and some of them get it.”
Creating a trophy for the winner of the Royal Rumble called the Pat Patterson Cup:
“I would like to have a cup like the Stanley Cup and put the name of each wrestler that won it in that year and the next year. It would be like a Stanley Cup and people would be fighting for that. I am going to try again (to get it created). Who ever wins the Royal Rumble you give them a trophy right there in the middle of the ring.”
His thoughts on the Bret Hart-Shawn Michaels Iron Man Match:
“The Iron Man match was a No-No. Vince (McMahon) didn’t want to do that at all. Forget it, two little guys for one hour, forget it, on a pay per view. I really convinced him. It took me a while but they did it. My god, it was so good. I was sitting in the audience, I wanted to feel the moment. I was actually crying because of how much I enjoyed that match. You don’t think those two kids were happy after, oh my god, it is something I will never forget.”
On who he sees with the biggest potential on the WWE Roster:
“Dolph Ziggler. Without a doubt. I see it big time. He has come a long way this kid. My point of view is if you got guys like Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin and all of these characters that are bigger than life, but those little guys, people love them. They are talented. That what makes feel that these can do nice things too.”
Pick up a copy of Pat’s book, Accepted: How the First Gay Superstar Changed WWE which will be available online and bookstores everywhere starting on August 9th. For more information about the book visit ECWPress.com.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
