10 Times WWE Narrowly Avoided Disaster

6. The Hiring Of Pat Patterson (General)

Pat Patterson Obit
WWE

'10 Times WWE Narrowly Avoided Disaster' is the title of the list, but in this instance, it's effectively the title of the entry.

In 1998, Vince McMahon fully evolved into the incredible Mr. McMahon character and, with perfect comedic flair, took credit for the WWF powerhouse from which he was intent on removing Stone Cold Steve Austin. In reality, Pat Patterson was almost as vital to its success.

"If you catch the heel by surprise in a fluke before retreating up the ramp in cowardice, the crowd will go banana!" Patterson never said, because he knew what he was doing.

His was a genius wrestling mind, one so sharp that it allowed the Fed to be an actually good and emotionally intense version of a big, daft cartoon. In addition to creating the Royal Rumble match, a veritable mathematical formula for generating multiple crowd pops, Patterson was the WWF's finish guy. In the halcyon days, every adrenalised sequence, crushing low and euphoric triumph was a Patterson special. He had the fans on stings. The WWF was never the most technically-minded league, nor the most athletic and bloody, but the drama was out of this world.

Prior to its reinvention as a PG property elevated by rights fees, the WWF tanked as a business when Steve Austin turned heel. It died as a creative force when Pat Patterson drifted away from the room.

Does the WWF win without him?

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!