“Pat is one of the greatest mentors I’ve ever had in the world of sports-entertainment.” — Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

When Pat Patterson was 17 years old, he was asked to leave his home after telling his parents he was in love . . . with a man. Moving from Montreal to the United States in the 1960s, barely knowing a word of English, he was determined to succeed in the squared circle. Back when homophobia was widespread, Pat lived in the super-macho world of pro wrestling.

In this fascinating and revealing memoir of revolutionary talent, pioneer, and creative savant Patterson recalls the trials and tribulations of climbing to the upper ranks of sports-entertainment — as a performer and, later, as a backstage creative force.

Many in the WWE Universe know Pat Patterson as a ring legend, the prestigious first holder of WWE’s Intercontinental Championship, a WWE Hall of Famer, and one of Vince McMahon’s “stooges” during the Attitude Era. But Patterson is no stooge. He has long been one of Vince McMahon’s trusted advisors. His impact and importance to the nascent stages of WWE are nearly comparable to that of the Chairman himself. Still active in WWE today, Pat delivers his no-holds-barred story of going from unknown to WWE luminary.

Pat Patterson's profile page

Vincent K. McMahon's profile page

Bertrand Hébert co-wrote Pat Patterson’s autobiography, Accepted. He lives in Beauharnois, Quebec. He also co-wrote Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s 2013 book of the year, Mad Dogs, Midgets and Screw Jobs with Pat Laprade. Laprade is the co-author of Sisterhood of the Squared Circle, created the Quebec wrestling Hall of Fame, and lives in Montreal.

Bertrand Hébert's profile page

“Pat is one of the greatest mentors I've ever had in the world of sports-entertainment. He has been instrumental in some of the greatest story lines and matches in my entire career, and I am forever grateful for his guidance and knowledge.” — Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

“Pat Patterson is considered a genius in our business — his wisdom and dedication are simply unmatched. Like so many WWE Superstars, I’m lucky to have learned from him and my career wouldn’t have been the same without him. Pat has played an integral part in my professional and personal life and I’m proud to say that he’ll always be a close friend and confidant.” — Paul “Triple H” Levesque

“A moving story about staying true to one’s dreams, ambitions, and identity — even in the face of improbable odds. Pat Patterson shares a stirring portrait of his rise to wrestling icon and trailblazer for LGBT athletes everywhere. Accepted is yet another display of strength and courage in Patterson's storied career as one of the world's most well-known wrestlers.” — Sarah Kate Ellis, President & CEO, GLAAD

“Pat Patterson is a wrestling Jedi. He’s the Yoda of WWE. He taught me 90% of what I know about how to put together a match. I had no idea how little I really knew about the psychology of the business until I met him.” — Chris Jericho

“Pat is one of the greatest minds to ever have anything to do with wrestling.” — Bret “Hit Man” Hart