Interview With Claude Patterson (Thunderbolt Patterson) 3-22-2021

By Mack Bell

[@risboturbide9396]

Now he's in the WWE Hall of Fame! (2024) 🍻🍻

[@Stevenross83]

I'm so full I'm full up to here!!

[@peopleunite78]

This was my Step- Daddy, R.I.P. favorite wrestler. Daddy used to say, I can hear him just like it was yesterday ,saying, Thunderbolt Patterson won't no pushover ❤💯

[@inezjackson2244]

Not only your dad my favorite all so , I 🙏🏿thunderbolt still doing well , he’s still spitting the truth.

[@johnsawh8459]

Dusty Rhodes got his moves from Thunderbot

[@jakelong9210]

LOVE THUNDERBOLT!!! LOOK GREAT!!! I watched him with Ole Anderson as a kid. Ole loved him!!!

[@coachrobinson9958]

If you move, Ole! 😂

[@kinginblack3321]

Greatest promo ever lol

[@matthewcollins8602]

Thunderbolt & Ole Anderson had the best chemistry together be it as opponents or partners.

[@matthewcollins8602]

Thunderbolt Patterson & Ole Anderson had the best chemistry as opponents and partners. Polar opposites that perfectly complemented each other. I saw them away from the ring as a kid chilling and telling each other jokes. Two of my all time favorites for sure.

[@kaptainhighdemolition5863]

Dusty Stole His Gimmick YUP I SAID IT!

[@roibaptiste3648]

Dusty was a poor white hillbilly who wanted to be black..... just like Elvis.

[@allenbrim2022]

Thunderbolt...A living legend!!

[@thewarrior313]

I got a chance to meet T-Bolt here in Detroit at a local wrestling show. An absolute legend!

[@peopleunite78]

I love you Thunderbolt, thank u for inspiring me to be one a pro wrestler ❤

[@MobileSMSLocal]

LIVING LEGEND!!!!

[@robintaylor485]

Fantastic absolutely fantastic interview

[@jeremykanetravis]

Even Masked Superstar said he couldn't get a match out of Thunderbolt Patterson.

[@forporter1]

Wow. I didn't know he was still alive. He's talked about as though he has passed.

[@osiawideman4851]

I grew up watching Thunderbolt Patterson,he did a lot for African Americans in regards to wrestling

[@JA_WILL]

Thunderbolt maintains KayFabe even in his complaints.

[@theflorgeormix]

You have to respect his honesty. Never heard of him til recently

[@KaneRobot]

He's full of shit. So honesty is a poor term to use here. Well below average wrestler and none really the draw he claims to be here.

[@harristonrichardson4754]

I FIRST got to see Thunderbolt Patterson and Ernie Ladd when they were with IWA wrestling as The SOUL PATROL. Anybody remember that wrestling Show??

[@user-qw4jj6jw1n]

If he drew the money he should have been champion

[@ICHIBAN-cz8ih]

If only we had time 😂😂😂😂

[@willharper7888]

😃 found out Thunderbolt is the guy my favorite wrestler Dusty "American Dream" Rhodes got his in ring antics from...cool 👏👏👏✌

[@blackdiamond306]

Clearly understand what he was trying to do he was trying to break racial barriers before his white counterparts were willing to share their success. Which many of the things he was fighting for would have also have white wrestlers as well they did not have any insurance pensions etc. So he was a threat to the industry pockets as well as groundbreaking for a black American to be a part of the wrestling federation. Bruce a Brody was another professional wrestler that try to invite other wrestlers as well that was very intelligent. I tried to fight for the wrestlers compensation which did not end well for him very mysteriously was his death. Dusty Rose was a favorite the audience of many black Americans many of us thought that he was raised as he said by a black woman which was also a lie. He took over thunderbolt paterson's image which was clearly a money maker and became one of the biggest Superstars and professional wrestling. They did not need thunderbolt and gave him a swift kick in it you know what. But they found his image to be useful when, Dusty Rhodes took off with it and never look back. But Dusty Rhodes was not the only wrestler that took his image, other wrestlers as well use everything from the way he dressed the way he talk and his signature moves. Even some black wrestlers ran off with his image one Tony Atlas. And restless life macho Man Randy Savage, and the boogie woogie Man Valentine. That all being said we as black Americans thought of integrating was the fix of separate but equal. But this only kept from my opinion till it's very day us begging when we should have been developing our own and integrating it. By now we should know better that you can change the laws but you can't change a man's heart. Forcing someone to accept you never works. Rather it's your kids or a young lady you have feelings for being more self-reliant brings more respect. You can't get it by breaking into another man's house. How long we're going to keep begging we're in 2023 and there is still no black wrestling alliance. And I'm not wrong by saying it the Mexicans have it the Asian have it. And all the Black American wrestlers have the same story.

[@powerandstrategy8061]

I've always wanted to hear his story from his own mouth...I'd like to interview him

[@peopleunite78]

Thunderbolt told the truth, especially about that Willie Lynch

[@moonbeamskies3346]

Thunderbolt Patterson is one of this white man's favorite people in the world. He was one of the best wrestlers!

[@jaust1n]

Who is this Bumpkin trying to do an interview 👀🤦🏿‍♂️😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@MobileSMSLocal]

BROOOOOO RIGHTTTTTT!!!!!!! I'm HOLLIN!!!!!! LMAO!!!

[@kinginblack3321]

I wish I could meet him

[@kinginblack3321]

If it weren't for him there would be no dusty rhodes

[@brucemcelroye5054]

I so agree!! Dusty Rhodes most def got that interview style from Thunderbolt Patterson

[@30907bng]

Dusty took Thunderbolt's entire persona.

[@chriscurry4646]

I never knew that Dusty was his replacement. It makes sense that Dusty used his interview style. Just like Hogan and Superstar Billy Graham.

[@guitarguy4630]

@@brucemcelroye5054 wasn't just the interview style dusty Rhodes took every aspect of thunderbolt patterson even down to the way he wrestles

[@bacardilvr]

Blackjack Mulligan also borrowed his promo style from Thunderbolt. He admitted it

[@vibingwithjv5980]

It was good to see thunderbolt Patterson it was really f***** up not to mention understand you

[@johnv1776]

Legend

[@calvinpatterson2355]

Loved him as a kid always wondered what happened to him

[@larryfloyd4993]

enjoy your interview with a thunderbolt Patterson...now he drew well in the south and texas... but was never in st. Louis for sam muchnick.. , or really a star for verne gagne , or vince sr. in wwwf... and race had nothing to do with it.. he just wouldn't draw in those places... but I do respect the man... read jim Wilson's book .. I think its called stranglehold... good read...muchnick, had had bobo, ernie ladd rufus, sweet daddy siki, bearcat wright, cal pullins George wells... ect. he was not a very good wrestler..great talker and god bless him... luv your Christian faith and love of god...

[@matthewcollins8602]

I think he had a great run in San Francisco for Roy Shire also

[@erikraleigh1360]

Patterson was blackballed at various times he sold out many places why not St Louis he was from the Midwest I believe either the timing was not right or he was blackballed Patterson was over

[@talkitteevee1107]

All love..but you dropped the ball with the opportunity to interview an important figure The audio makes it hard to sit thru

[@gaysonmartinocho5262]

thats the tik tok guy hes 43 years old and is also a professor or high school teacher

[@ruff1draft]

I was actually wondering if Thunderbolt Patterson was still alive

[@billxmas889]

That interviewer has got a higher voice than Larry Shreve .

[@sheldonhchambliss1385]

Thunder bolt was big and my house

[@dennismagsby5276]

Man I really enjoyed this video and I would love to speak with Thunderbolt he was blacked ball back then and today I can relate I just love to speak with him

[@Jack-fo2pc]

He wasn't black balled, he sucked, and blamed everyone but himself

[@toddporter9211]

Cant hear what they saying audio is terrible

[@willjarmon4418]

I heard Thunderbolt was supposed to be the first black NWA champion but he walked the night he would have gotten it

[@chrischar9428]

BULLFUCKINGSHIT

[@HoustonIsImmortal]

Thunderbolt Patterson was too ahead of his time to reach the heights that some lesser talents did. His militant mindset turned off a lot of the bigot promoters and wrestlers back then, which got him blackballed at a certain point.

[@keithrichards3829]

Get off your phone you talking to history

[@theresahamlet3691]

I remember Thunderbolt Patterson n my teenager years I couldn't wait to see him on Thursday nights at the Norfolk Arena he was phenomenal my whole Family N-joyed Thunderbolt Patterson in my Teenage years I didn't know all that was going on if u know what I mean.I always wonder if he was still here & I found out he is still above ground watching his interviews today He's Phenomenal & PRICELESS THUNDERBOLT Ur the Greatest & Never 4 gotten 💙 .

[@handstwister]

Thunderbolt wasn’t on the level of Ernie Lad Tony Atlas, and definitely not on the level of the American Dream. They all understood it takes two to make a match and that they had to be willing to take bumps from others to sell a match. He wouldn’t sell for anyone and guys had to start being stiff with him. When guys got stiff he started crying and became an even bigger headache to match with anyone. Then he went into heavy race baiting and threatening law suites. He talks about Rin Simmons yet summons endured and had one of the best careers anyone could have. Why because he was a company man who made matches exciting by being willing to put another man over instead of expecting it to be a one way street. For every man that he put over a thousand did the same for him. Thunderbolt had no give and take period. Sad because there was a time he shot great promos and was an entertaining man. The worst thing that happened to thunderbolt was success because then he became his persona making him impossible for anyone to deal with. He became his own worst enemy and it cost him a career.

[@grammysworld5449]

So you mention Ladd and say Patterson didn't bump? He bumped for big stars.. his issue was he didn't want to play the game.. Atlas kissed enough ass and had his own accolades before wrestling.. You really should educate yourself on southern and Midwest wrestling before running with your dirt sheet theories

[@handstwister]

@@grammysworld5449 I grew up watching all of them as it happened, I definitely didnt watch highlights or have to read about it years after the fact.

[@futureesters]

YOU FULL OF SHIT Dusty stole EVERY THING MIC WISE FROM THIS MAN!

[@grammysworld5449]

@@handstwister obviously you didn't watch enough

[@handstwister]

@@futureesters Nah he took his promo preacher style and made it completely Unique to himself. Theres no comparison between the two. Dusty was a consummate worker and Thunderbolt got lazy and never evolved at all. The only one who can’t see through their own shit is you bro. But hey keep riding Its all opinions at the end of the day its just yours is wrong

[@phillipgriffith3045]

still playing the race card

[@baberuth2863]

he is a crybaby

[@michaelalsbrooks7305]

What is the race car ? Is it playing the race car when an individual speaks on racism that he or she has encountered ?

[@brainspin7518]

@@michaelalsbrooks7305 "CARD" not car!

[@lee-pc5jq]

He was around before Jeffrey "Straight Jacking"Toobin came up with that term to discount real issues.

[@gtf2584]

@@brainspin7518 haha

[@virgiljohnson9880]

Over rated just because of his tan