-- WWE announced through Andscape that Claude "Thunderbolt" Patterson is the latest individual to be announced into their Hall of Fame, class of 2024. He joins the already announced Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, Muhammad Ali, and the U.S. Express as members of this class.
-- Patterson, 82, was noted by Andscape as being a "Black pro wrestler who was blacklisted from one of the most well-known promotions in the 1970s in part due to deeply ingrained racism in the business." A multi-time NWA champion and contemporary of Dusty Rhodes, the article notes that Patterson's career significantly stalled after barely a decade in the business. By the 1970s, his bookings began to dry up due to his unflinching attitude toward his humanity and his working conditions. He advocated for a more equal pay system with promoters and better rights for the wrestlers and also lobbied state governments to regulate wrestling as they do boxing, including ringside physicians, which the WWE employs today.
-- WWE had the following statement on the induction:
As first reported by Andscape, Thunderbolt Patterson will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
A hugely influential, although often overlooked, figure in sports-entertainment history, Patterson’s captivating abilities on the microphone inspired a generation of talkers that followed in his footsteps.
Growing up in Iowa, Patterson moved to Texas and worked with legendary promoter Dory Funk Sr. (father of WWE Hall of Famers Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk) where he began performing incredible interviews using a delivery inspired by Black Southern pastors.
Patterson backed up his talents on the microphone in the ring as he captured titles across North America while defeating iconic opponents like Bruiser Brody and WWE Hall of Famer The Sheik. Thunderbolt was also a decorated tag team competitor, most famously teaming with Ole Anderson before their partnership erupted into a brutal rivalry, which helped launch the legendary Four Horsemen.
Patterson was also a contemporary of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, and was often credited with inspiring The American Dream’s charismatic persona.
Patterson’s work as a captivating performer was self-evident, but he was also a fierce advocate for the health and welfare of competitors outside of the ring.
His legacy as a showman with his signature quick punches, his incredible blend of power and speed, and his compassion for his fellow man live on as his influence can still be seen in the ring today.
