Unsung Wrestlers 4: Thunderbolt Patterson

[James Dean]

Previous Write Up Here: www.thecoli.com/threads/unsung-wrestlers-4-bearcat-wright.501501

I meant to label this Unsung Wrestlers 5. Mods??

BirthPlace: Waterloo, Iowa
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 242 lbs.
Trained By: Pat O’ Connor & Steve Kovacs
Debut: 1964
Retired: 1994
Titles & Accomplishments: Former World and Tag Team Champion in various NWA and WWA promotions

T-Bolt or ThunderBolt as many would call him may not be a name on wrestling fans radars. However, Patterson actually was one of the better workers of his heyday. Both in and outside of the ring.

Thunderbolt was born as Claude Patterson in Waterloo, Iowa. As a young man he worked for John Deere before breaking into the professional wrestling circuit. He migrated to Kansas City and would start his training under the wing of Pat O’ Connor and Steve Kovacs. After intense workouts and training, they tested his work in the local independent promotions from the area. After minor success, he caught the eye of promoter Gus Karras in the mid 60s. Gus encouraged Patterson to move to Texas, which he took up in 1965. It was there that he started to work with Dory Funk Sr. Who was one of the biggest promoters in the area. in 1966, Patterson traveled to California and won the WWA Tag Team Championship with Alberto Torres.

Once he lost the Tag Team title, Patterson turned heel and migrated back to Texas for work. Most notably in Dallas. Teaming with another villainous character, Boris Malenko. The two would run rampart in the Dallas, TX area however Malenko turned on Patterson. This marked the start of Patterson’s babyface run. A run that he took to other promotions such as Big Time Wrestling in Michigan and Ohio.

While Patterson was a prideful, entertaining, and colorful competitor on the outside. He faced many problems in the inside. He turned to working with smaller and outlaw promotions. Patterson spoke out against many of the bigger territories and stated that for years he dealt with poor working conditions and Racial discrimination.
Patterson would go on to sue some of the various promoters and promotions he worked for. However, it came to no avail. The only promoter that Patterson was very fond of, was Dory Funk Sr.. Either way, Patterson was promptly blacklisted from the business for his views .

Now without work, Patterson started interim work with the Los Angeles Times. And would spend a few years away from wrestling. It wasn’t until Dusty Rhodes came along in the Florida Territory, that Patterson would get another shot at the business. Thanks to Dusty Rhodes himself. Patterson returned with much fanfare, winning his first heavyweight title in 1976. Defeating Brusier Brody. Patterson spent the next few years as a successful competitor in the Florida territory before encountering a new ally.

This ally, was Ole Anderson. Ole Anderson and Patterson would team up in the early 80s. Eventually and briefly winning the NWA Tag Team title. Ole would then turn on Patterson and join Arn Anderson. Planting the seeds for the eventual Four Horsemen stable. This is regarded as one of the key moments in the forming of this group.

Patterson retired as a wrestler in 1993. He became a manager for a brief period before stepping away from the business in 1994. After wrestling he became a minister and ran a camp for Christian children.

 

[puppetmaster]

Moms made sure I knew about Thunderbolt. She'd always say when you hear Dusty speak and see some of his mannerisms think Thunderbolt because that's where a lot of his style came from

Definitely an unsung talent

 

[Beautiful Bobby Eatin]

Moms made sure I knew about Thunderbolt. She'd always say when you hear Dusty speak and see some of his mannerisms think Thunderbolt because that's where a lot of his style came from

Definitely an unsung talent

This. You cant claim to love Dusty and not give Thunderbolt his due.

 

[Berniewood Hogan]

Dwayne never gives this Patterson props.

 

[patscorpio]

thunderbolt patterson...i remember watching him on one of those legend matches from one of the starrcades i think from the early 90s...dude was animated as shyt...cats mentioning the dusty mannerisms might be on to something

 

[Willy Waffle]

Old School Spotlight: Thunderbolt Patterson - The P.W.A. Show

As the 1970s rolled around, Patterson worked almost exclusively in the southern part of the country where he wrestled in relative anonymity for most of the ’70s and ’80s. Patterson was one of the few black wrestlers touring the South in those days and had to endure racial slurs, taunts from fans and hate mail. Some nights were tougher than others, but he persevered. Anyone who watched Championship Wrestling from Florida back in the mid-’70s, remembers Patterson fondly. He was an athletic, energetic performer with good interview skills. Former nemesis Killer Karl Kox said of Patterson: “He could talk the talk and walk the walk.” he would fire up the crowd with a pre-fight chat with Gordon Solie, strut to the ring and then deliver the goods. Audiences ate it up. Southern fans loved Thunderbolt’s charismatic style. “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes often admits that he took his own interview style from Patterson.

i thought this was evident dusty promo style was influenced by thunderbolt.

if i only had audio of that 1st video, i would have straight up thought that was dusty.

 

[James Dean]

Yeah and with Dusty being the one that helped Patterson get back out in the business after his blacklist, it make sense that Dusty was pretty admired by his work.