Being a “Pat Patterson Guy” Allegedly Brought Heat in WWE Locker Room

René Duprée isn’t holding back when it comes to the politics of the WWE locker room—and this time, he’s shining a spotlight on the double-edged sword of being linked to WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson.

During The Final Countdown to 2026, Duprée recalled how being aligned with Patterson came with both perks and a target on your back. Because his tag partner Sylvain Grenier was close to Patterson, Duprée says he was lumped in by association.

“Because I was Sly’s partner, I was kind of protected in that way. We had someone going to bat for us. I didn’t know Pat Patterson before I got there, but I was French Canadian, so automatically I get put in that camp.”

That association, however, didn’t sit well with everyone in the locker room. According to Duprée, being viewed as a Patterson guy stirred up resentment.

“I was told by someone, ‘If you’re considered a Pat Patterson guy, that’s heat with the boys.’”

René didn’t shy away from addressing the homophobia that may have played a role in those attitudes.

“I guess it goes back to the whole—the fact he’s a homosexual thing. You know what I mean? They automatically assume, ‘Oh, you’re a Pat’s guy.’”

Despite the whispers and judgment, Duprée made it clear that Patterson was one of the most brilliant minds in wrestling—and he wasn’t the only one who thought so.

“When I worked with The Rock, he came to me and said, ‘If you want to work with somebody, work with Pat Patterson—he’s the best.’”

That praise stuck with Duprée, especially considering how rare it was for Vince McMahon to give credit to anyone. Patterson, he said, was the exception.

“He was the only guy Vince would say, ‘I couldn’t have done it without you.’ That’s how much he meant to the company.”

René even suggested that WWE’s product noticeably changed after Patterson was gone:

“Now that he’s not around, I feel it shows on their television product.”

This story adds to the complex backstage world of WWE—a place where your allies could both elevate and endanger your career, and respect didn’t always shield you from judgment.

Do you think being aligned with Pat Patterson helped or hurt careers in WWE? Should more legends be open about this kind of backstage heat? Drop your thoughts in the comments—we want to hear your take.

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