Legend of Amarillo Wrestling Promotion Inducted Into WWE Hall of Fame

A wrestling legend who once graced the squared circle in the Texas Panhandle was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame over the weekend.

Thunderbolt Patterson, one of the stars of the now-defunct Western States Sports Promotion of Amarillo, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on Friday. According to the WWE’s profile of Patterson on their website, the star is noted for his work both in the ring and on the microphone.

“A hugely influential, although often overlooked, figure in sports-entertainment history, Thunderbolt Patterson’s captivating abilities on the microphone inspired a generation of talkers that followed in his footsteps,” the profile reads.

Patterson trained under Amarillo wrestling legend Dory Funk Sr. after moving to Texas. Patterson then wrestled for the Western States Sports promotion based out of Amarillo for several years and captured the promotion’s tag team title at a live event in 1967. Patterson also won the Amarillo version of the NWA Brass Knuckles Championship on several occasions in the late 1960s.

Thunderbolt Patterson’s WWE Hall of Fame induction video can be viewed here.