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Accepted
How the First Gay Superstar Changed WWE
Foreword by Vincent K. McMahon / With Bertrand Hebert
Published by ECW Press
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
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.
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.
Product Details
- Publisher: ECW Press (August 9, 2016)
- Length: 272 pages
- ISBN13: 9781770412934
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Raves and 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
“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
“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 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
“Pat is one of the greatest minds to ever have anything to do with wrestling.” — Bret “Hit Man” Hart
“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
“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
“The main event in wrestling books this season.” — Quill & Quire
“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
“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
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High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Accepted Hardcover 9781770412934
