5 Facts every WWE fan needs to know about Pat Patterson

#2. Pat Patterson was responsible for creating The Royal Rumble

It's every WWE fan's favorite pay-per-view of the year and begins the Road to WrestleMania, but interestingly the idea for The Royal Rumble match itself wasn't a concept that Vince McMahon came up with.

Pat Patterson was the genius behind The Royal Rumble concept since the company needed an idea for a pay-per-view in January at the time and McMahon didn't have one to hand over, so he allowed Pat Patterson to pitch The Rumble.

Pat Patterson revealed in an interview with Inside The Ropes back in 2019 that Vince McMahon initially thought that his idea was "stupid."

“I had a big meeting with Vince McMahon and Dick Ebersol,” Patterson said. “I’m there with Vince and we’re talking about Dick Ebersol, he’s on NBC Network, wants a big show, something special, something that’s never been done. So, I gave my idea to Vince. He knew the idea but he didn’t like it, but I gave him the idea. And Vince says, ‘Alright, tell Dick Ebersol that stupid idea you’ve got.’ I said, ‘Well first of all, it’s not a stupid idea.’ So, Dick Ebersol, I told him the idea. One guy, two guys, bing boom! Dick Ebersol went crazy, he says, ‘Vince, this is unbelievable for television.’

The Royal Rumble is now one of the biggest pay-per-views of the year and is set for its 33rd event in 2021.