Accepted: How the First Gay Superstar Changed WWE
$22.99-
When Pat Patterson was 17 years old, he was asked to leave his home after telling his parents he was in love with a man. Moving from Montreal to the United States in the 1960s, barely knowing a word of English, he was determined to succeed in the squared circle. Already facing homophobia in his daily life, Pat also lived in the super-macho world of pro wrestling.
In this fascinating and revealing memoir of a revolutionary talent, pioneer, and creative savant, Patterson recalls the trials and tribulations of climbing to the upper ranks of sports entertainment — as a performer and, later, as a backstage creative force.
Many in the WWE Universe knew Pat Patterson as a ring legend, the prestigious first holder of WWE’s Intercontinental Championship, a WWE Hall of Famer, and one of Vince McMahon’s “stooges” during the Attitude Era. But Patterson was no stooge. For years, he was one of Vince McMahon’s most trusted advisors. His impact on and importance to the nascent stages of WWE are nearly comparable to that of the Chairman himself. Still as relevant today, Pat Patterson’s no-holds-barred story of going from unknown to WWE luminary is a classic tale of triumph.
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Pat Patterson was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996 and later worked as a creative consultant for WWE. Bertrand Hébert is the co-author of Mad Dogs, Midgets and Screwjobs and the upcoming “Mad Dog” Vachon biography. Vincent K. McMahon is the Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer of WWE. A third generation promoter, McMahon purchased the company from his father in 1982. Under his leadership, WWE has developed into one of the most popular and sophisticated forms of global entertainment today.
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Published: August 2016
ISBN: 9781770412934
Dimensions: 6 x 9 in.
Pages: 272
Reviews
“Pat is one of the greatest mentors I’ve ever had in the world of sports-entertainment. He has been instrumental in some of the greatest story lines and matches in my entire career, and I am forever grateful for his guidance and knowledge.” — Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
“A moving story about staying true to one’s dreams, ambitions, and identity — even in the face of improbable odds. Pat Patterson shares a stirring portrait of his rise to wrestling icon and trailblazer for LGBT athletes everywhere. Accepted is yet another display of strength and courage in Patterson’s storied career as one of the world’s most well-known wrestlers.” — Sarah Kate Ellis, President & CEO, GLAAD
“Pat is one of the greatest minds to ever have anything to do with wrestling.” — Bret “Hit Man” Hart
“Fans of professional wrestling and those interested in LGBTQ rights from the 1960s to the present will find much to enjoy in this book from the first WWE intercontinental champion.” — Library Journal
“I never thought I would finish a wrestling book and feel like I had just read a love story, yet that’s precisely how it felt. Not merely a love story between Pat and his long-time companion Louis Dondero, but a love story between Pat and the wrestling business . . . Pat Patterson is simply one of the greatest of all time, and this book is a gateway into his amazing world.” — Slam Wrestling
“Congratulations to one of my all-time best friends. #Accepted” — Vince McMahon, Twitter
“It should come as no surprise that Patterson's penchant for telling a good story in the ring translates to his storytelling ability within the confines of a book. . . For Pat Patterson, wrestling was his life and the greatest thing that ever happened to him. He and co-author Hébert do a sterling job of bringing that out through the pages of a story that's been long overdue.” — Charleston Post and Courier
“This is a moving story about staying true to one's dreams, ambitions, and identity even when it seems impossible to do so.” — Reviews by Amos Lassen
"For pro-wrestling followers, Accepted is two thumbs up." — The Bookworm Sez
“For those who were fans for any period of time . . . the book does chronicle a significant swath of history and offer a large collection of previously unheralded anecdotes and factoids. Moreover, one could take Patterson's story as part of a larger narrative in Western culture of gay men and women who have paved the way for a more broadly accepting culture.” — Fourth & Sycamore
“Even those who don't follow WWE religiously will find honour in Pat's light-hearted take on many of his struggles.” — WhatCulture
“Pat Patterson is considered a genius in our business — his wisdom and dedication are simply unmatched. Like so many WWE Superstars, I’m lucky to have learned from him and my career wouldn’t have been the same without him. Pat has played an integral part in my professional and personal life and I’m proud to say that he’ll always be a close friend and confidant.” — Paul “Triple H” Levesque
“Pat Patterson is a wrestling Jedi. He’s the Yoda of WWE. He taught me 90% of what I know about how to put together a match. I had no idea how little I really knew about the psychology of the business until I met him.” — Chris Jericho
“That story line is surprisingly wistful, tender, and accessible to all readers . . . Patterson is a very good storyteller, and his tales from the road about well-known personalities such as the fun-seeking Andre the Giant and the forever-young-at-heart Ray Stevens are wonderfully told, and many of the wrestlers’ time-killing pranks are laugh-out-loud funny.” — Publishers Weekly
“The main event in wrestling books this season.” — Quill & Quire
”Pat Patterson is an icon and a true @WWE legend. Congrats on your autobiography Pat, I can't wait to read #Accepted!” — Stephanie McMahon, Twitter
“It's the author's perspective as a gay man in a world where gay was not a public option that gives the book its real value.” — Montreal Gazette
“Pat Patterson's book covers all bases.” — Online World of Wrestling
“I recommend this book highly.” — Section 309
“Accepted is one of the books that comes along that I can't put down.” — JW’s Wrestling Memorabilia
“[An] affable memoir.” — Toronto Star