has passed away from cancer at the age of 79.In a statement, the WWE described Patterson as “A true trailblazer of the industry,” who “was linked to many ‘firsts’ in sports-entertainment throughout his storied career, including the first-ever Intercontinental Title reign and the creation of the Royal Rumble Match.
In a career spanning six decades, the renaissance man left an indelible mark on the industry in the ring, on the microphone and behind the scenes.”Patterson started his wrestling career in 1958, came out in the early 1970s, and continued his wrestling career with World Wrestling Entertainment until 1984 when he retired from the ring.