On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Thunderbolt Patterson, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.
Claude Patterson was born in Waterloo, Iowa on July 8, 1941, and he is currently 82 years old.
Thunderbolt Patterson was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2024.
Profile Info
- Gender Male
- Real Name Claude Patterson
- Ring Names
- Sweet Daddy Brown ( October 12, 1994 - October 16, 1994)
- Thunderbolt Patterson ( April 5, 1967 - October 11, 1994)
- Thunderbolt Peters ( June 29, 1966 - April 4, 1967)
- Thunderbolt Patterson ( January 3, 1966 - November 24, 1966)
- Claude Peters ( June 25, 1966 - June 25, 1966)
- Claude Patterson ( October 10, 1964 - January 2, 1966)
- Born July 8, 1941 (age 82)
- Nationality
United States - Birth Place Waterloo, Iowa
- Billed From
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
- Weight
- 242 lbs (110 kg)
- Nicknames T-Bolt
United StatesCareer History
- Roles
- Part Time Wrestler ( May 23, 1993 - October 16, 1994)
- Wrestler ( January 12, 1983 - August 7, 1985)
- Wrestler ( October 10, 1964 - January 7, 1980)
- Promotions / Brands
Promotion from to Promotion 
WCWMay 23, 1993 May 23, 1993 Promotion NWANovember 18, 1984 August 7, 1985 Promotion AWAJanuary 22, 1985 April 21, 1985 Promotion NWAJanuary 25, 1975 January 7, 1980 Promotion CWAMay 7, 1979 May 28, 1979 Promotion NWAJanuary 9, 1967 October 15, 1973 Promotion WCCWJanuary 5, 1971 April 26, 1972 Promotion WCCWJune 9, 1969 December 16, 1969 Promotion WWWFMarch 6, 1969 June 2, 1969 Promotion WCCWNovember 30, 1965 January 11, 1966 Promotion NWADecember 4, 1964 January 11, 1966 Promotion AWAOctober 10, 1964 October 30, 1965 - Face / Heel Turns
Alignment from to Face March 3, 1985 October 16, 1994 Tweener February 9, 1966 March 2, 1985 Heel October 10, 1964 January 11, 1966 - Images History
Nov 1984Jan 1983Jan 1975Mar 1969Jan 1966Oct 1964
WCW
NWA
AWA
CWA
WCCW
WWWF
- Finishers
- Atomic Drop ( October 10, 1964 - August 7, 1985)
Titles & Accomplishments
- Halls of Fame
- WWE Hall of Fame - Year 2024, Individual
- Titles Won
Championship Wrestling from Florida
- 1 NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship
- 1 NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version)
Continental Wrestling Association
- 1 CWA World Heavyweight Championship
Georgia Championship Wrestling
- 3 NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 with Mr. Wrestling I, 1 with Tommy Rich, 1 with Tony Atlas)
- 2 NWA Georgia Television Championship
- 1 NWA National Tag Team Championship (with Ole Anderson)
International Championship Wrestling
- 1 ICW United States Heavyweight Championship
Maple Leaf Wrestling
- 1 NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Toronto version)
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
- 1 NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Championship (with Jerry Brisco)
NWA Big Time Wrestling
- 4 NWA American Tag Team Championship (2 with Wahoo McDaniel, 1 with Toru Tanaka, 1 with Johnny Valentine)
NWA Tri-State
- 1 NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Tri-State version)
Western States Sports
- 1 NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Amarillo version)
World Wrestling Association
- 1 WWA World Tag Team Championship (with Alberto Torres)
- Other Accomplishments
- George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Lou Thesz Award (2019)
Relations
- Tag Teams & Stables
- Ole Anderson & Thunderbolt Patterson - Ole Anderson ( November 18, 1984 - March 3, 1985)
- Soul Patrol - Ernie Ladd ( April 30, 1974 - March 9, 1975)
- Jerry Brisco & Thunderbolt Patterson - Gerald Brisco ( July 27, 1972 - August 31, 1973)
- Family
- Bobby Walker - Nephew