Pat Patterson Pierre Clemont ( January 19 , 1941 ) is a Canadian former professional wrestler , better known by his ring name , Pat Patterson . He is currently working for World Wrestling Entertainment as a Creative Consultant . He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996 . Professional wrestling career . Early 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 the heel tag team , the Blond Bombers . Also , in San Francisco , Patterson was a six - time United States Champion . After Stevens turned face in the late 1960s , he had a feud with the heel Patterson , culminating in the 1970s Texas Death match , in which Stevens won the title from Patterson . 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 butt s . In 1972 , Patterson turned babyface , 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 . The Battle Royal , an event held annually throughout the 1970s , is often cited as the predecessor of the Royal Rumble . Pat left the San Francisco promotion in the mid 1970s , which folded up shop in 1980 . World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment . Active wrestling . In 1979 , Patterson debuted in the then World Wide Wrestling Federation , working as a heel , under the tutelage of manager The Grand Wizard . As a villain , Patterson ' s primary feuds were with WWF North American Champion Ted DiBiase and WWF World Champion Bob Backlund . During a television taping June 19 in Allentown , Pennsylvania , Patterson defeated DiBiase for the WWF North American Championship by using a pair of brass knuckles to knock out DiBiase . Patterson was unsuccessful , however , in winning the WWF World Championship from Backlund . In September 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 . ) It was during Patterson ' s reign as champion that he turned face , after a botched attempt by the Grand Wizard to " sell " Patterson ' s contract to " Captain " Lou Albano for $ 100 , 000 ; Albano ' s proteges , the Wild Samoans , attacked Patterson after he cut a promo insulting Albano . 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 May 4 , 1981 , Patterson ' s feud with Sgt . Slaughter culminated in an " Alley Fight " in Madison Square Garden . The match was voted Match of the Year by the " Wrestling Observer Newsletter " . Back stage roles and part - time appearances . 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 the late 1990s , he also worked in the talent - relations department . In 1997 , Mr . Patterson became an onscreen stooge of Vince McMahon . He and Jerry Brisco became comedy heels , aiding McMahon 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 " 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 , 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 Royal . 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 retired from World Wrestling Entertainment . One of his last acts was a report for WWE which claimed that too much time was being devoted to Triple H , the son - in - law of Vince McMahon . Patterson returned to WWE in a limited capacity in May 2005 . While he is now retired as a producer for WWE , he still acts as a consultant . At WWE Breaking Point , Patterson made an appearance in his hometown of Montreal in an in - ring segment with Dolph Ziggler . On April 10 , 2012 , Patterson made an appearance on " WWE Smackdown : Blast from the Past " . On May 27 , 2013 , Patterson was a surprise guest for Bret Hart appreciation night in Calgary , Alberta which was the post " Raw " show , shown around the world on the WWE App , and across Canada on The Score . As of April 2014 , Patterson is a regular cast member on the WWE Network original reality show Legends ' House . Personal life . Patterson is openly gay . In August 2006 , Patterson underwent emergency heart surgery . In October , Patterson recovered from his operation and was released from the hospital . Patterson is a Roman Catholic , and was an altar boy . He expressed an interest to a priest in becoming one himself , but was advised it wouldn ' t work , because he was " too adventurous " . Patterson is also the godfather of Stephanie McMahon . Sexual harassment lawsuit . 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 .