Old School Rasslin

[Seminole Red]

Professional wrestling legend and long-time WWE personality Pat Patterson has died.

He was 79.

The WWE announced Patterson’s death with an announcement on its website.

Patterson was credited with have the first Intercontinental Title reign in the company and with creating the “Royal Rumble,” which has become one of the company’s top pay-per-view events.

The company said Patterson began his wrestling career in 1958 in Canada and won the AWA tag team title in 1978. It said he became the company’s Intercontinental champion in 1979. He retired from in-ring competition in 1984, but was a major player behind the scenes for the company, and appeared, occasionally, during on-air segments.