Pat Patterson: Vince McMahon Thought The Royal Rumble Idea Was Stupid
Pat Patterson discusses the creation of the Royal Rumble.
During a UK Tour with Inside The Ropes, Pat Patterson was asked about creating the Royal Rumble and pitching it to Dick Ebersol of NBC Sports.
“We had a big meeting with Vince McMahon and [NBC Sports executive] Dick Ebersol. I give my idea to Vince. He knew the idea but didn’t like it. Vince says, ‘Tell Dick Ebersol that stupid idea you got.’ I said, ‘It’s not a stupid idea.’ I told Dick Ebersol the idea. He went crazy. [Ebersol said], ‘Vince, this is unbelievable television.'”
Patterson continued, “The day of [the first Royal Rumble], Vince says to me, ‘Did you set up the order for Royal Rumble?’ ‘No’ ‘Well fuck, you’ve gotta do it.’ I had to do all that by myself. And I did. I love it because it’s very entertaining.”
The first Royal Rumble aired in 1988 on the USA Network. Patterson revealed that the match was not supposed to become an annual event.
You can view the entire clip with Patterson in the video above.
