Legendary wrestler Pat Patterson has died on the age of 79, World Wrestling Leisure confirmed in a press release on Wednesday.

The Montreal native, whose delivery identify was Pierre Clermont, had been battling most cancers.

Patterson’s wrestling profession spanned from 1958 to 1984. After making his debut on regional battle playing cards in Quebec, he moved to the U.S. within the early 1960s. In 1979, he turned WWE’s first Intercontinental champion.

After asserting his in-ring retirement in 1984, he labored as a color analyst and in varied roles behind the scenes with the pinnacle of the corporate, Vince McMahon. The promotion was then known as the World Wrestling Federation.

In 2016, Patterson printed his autobiography, Accepted: How the First Homosexual Famous person Modified WWE, in collaboration with creator Bertrand Hébert. Patterson’s sexual orientation was broadly recognized in wrestling circles, however he introduced it publicly in 2014.

Often known as “le Rêve du Québec” for his exploits within the ring, he additionally turned recognized for considering of inventive methods of ending wrestling matches. He got here up with the idea of the Royal Rumble, an elimination match that historically options 30 wrestlers and has gone on to turn out to be one in every of WWE’s hottest occasions. 

In WWE’s assertion, Patterson’s profession is described as being ”synonymous with making historical past.”

“From the Intercontinental Title to the Royal Rumble Match and past, his identify will ceaselessly be revered in WWE lore,” learn the assertion.

Patterson was inducted into the WWE Corridor of Fame in 1996.

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