JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – From government to schools to sports, the fight for civil rights has been well-documented in many areas of society.
But pro wrestling is often overlooked in societal discussions, so you might never have heard the fascinating story of Claude “Thunderbolt” Patterson.
His active career wrapped up in the 1980s, but during the bulk of his career in the 1970s, he faced a lot of hurdles.
Back then, pro wrestling was a territorial-based system, not like the massive global wrestling companies of today, such as WWE and AEW.
Back then the country was carved up into unofficial territories. There was one in Florida, one in Georgia, Texas-based promotions and so on throughout the United States.
The unofficial governing body for wrestling then was called the National Wrestling Alliance or NWA. Most wrestlers traveled from territory to territory and Thunderbolt Patterson was a hot commodity in the wrestling business who fans paid money to watch.
Despite his popularity, Patterson ran into difficulties for several reasons.
First, he was outspoken and known to push for better conditions for wrestlers.
He also made a lot of enemies for a business move in the Atlanta territory.
When promoter Ray Gunkel died, there was a dispute over who should take over running the Atlanta territory.
His wife, Ann Gunkel, took over and started what was called an “outlaw” wrestling territory -- one not recognized by the NWA.
“I got blackballed,” said Patterson. “I went and worked for Ann Gunkel.”
Many years later, Patterson continued his fight when he brought up -- in a very public forum -- the unfair treatment of African American wrestlers.
Before there were daytime talk shows like Jerry Springer, there was the Morton Downey Jr. Show. The originator of the highly argumentative form of television that became daytime TV talk, Downey was was known to smoke and frankly be a loudmouth.
On one episode in the late 1980s, he brought on pro wrestlers to discuss the industry. At the time, the veil of secrecy that wrestling was scripted was being pulled back, so discussing it on television was very cutting edge.
This is one of the places online you can still find the episode:
Even in the title of this specific clip, Patterson is described as “whiny” by the uploader.
This had a lot to do with the racial disparities he brought up in the scream-filled episode. Much of the episode involved yelling between Patterson and another famous wrestler of the era “Dr. D” David Schultz.
You can watch the episode to make up your own mind on the argument, but here are some of the provocative soundbites:
Patterson started by claiming he was underpaid (around $100,000) based on the number of tickets he sold early in his career.
“As a Black individual, you are limited. It’s that simple,” Patterson said.
He wasn’t getting a lot of help from the host.
“Seems to me anyone making $100,000 in the 1960s wasn’t really discriminated against,” Downey said.
But Patterson argued he was bringing in big business and should have made more.
And in a heated back and forth between Schultz and Patterson, Schultz yelled: “Just because you’re Black, you think somebody should kneel down to you!”
This is just a quick piece of a lengthy, tense show.
Patterson, on reflection, said all his fights in pro wrestling happened on television. Not privately.
“All on television,” said Patterson. “Everything that happened is on tape.”
Fast forward several decades and WWE comes calling about possibly putting Patterson in the Hall of Fame. But Patterson, still feeling the sting of his past in the industry, at first wasn’t interested.
“At one time I said I wouldn’t take it,” said Patterson. “Because they took the best of my life away. Took the best of my wrestling ability away.”
But Patterson said he was eventually convinced to be inducted.
“Because God sent some good people and talked me into it,” said Patterson.