The Nation of Domination was a controversial stable when it first appeared on WWE television in the 90s, and it would likely be just as provocative today. WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry, a former member of the original group, has now shared his picks for rebuilding the faction in modern-day WWE.

The group responsible in launching The Rock’s career hasn’t seen a new version, although other groups like The Hurt Business and The Pride have come close. There hasn’t been a new Nation of Domination yet, but the World’s Strongest Man has his eye on a few possible members.

Speaking to K & S WrestleFest, Henry discussed his picks for a new Nation of Domination stable and made a surprising choice by picking Velveteen Dream over Trick Williams. While he praised Trick Williams, he felt Williams was too well-liked for the group’s dynamic. Instead, Henry chose Velveteen Dream, also known as Patrick Clark, as his wildcard pick, believing it’s time for Clark to have a second chance in wrestling.

A New Nation of Domination

Henry acknowledged the significance of cancel culture and its role in accountability but stressed the importance of grace and forgiveness.

“Number one draft pick, (Powerhouse) Hobbs, and then number two, Omos, and then I would go Carmelo Hayes and as much as I love Trick Williams, I think that Trick is — he’s too liked. I want people that people don’t like. I want Bobby Lashley. I want people that you just don’t like ‘em. And there’s a lot of young guys that I think could hold up.”

“But, my wildcard would probably be Velveteen Dream, would be Patrick (Clark). I think it’s time for his second chance. A lot of people in the world of wrestling love the talent. We’re in a cancel culture that is justified as so. We need a cancel culture. But, at some point, you gotta have grace and forgiveness and you gotta see if that person is gonna bury themselves again because habitual line steppers, that’s exactly who they are. Once they get that second chance and they’re out, I ain’t cosigning for you no more. But, everybody needs their second chance.”

Mark Henry’s AEW contract is reportedly up very soon. It will be interesting to see what he does next in his pro wrestling career. Henry made his AEW debut on May 30, 2021, at Double or Nothing, where it was announced that he would join the commentary team for the new show AEW Rampage and also serve as a coach.

Patrick Clark’s Controversies

In April 2020, Patrick Clark faced allegations of sending indecent images to underage boys, which he denied. During the Speaking Out movement in June 2020, further accusations emerged that he had inappropriate communications with underage individuals. WWE investigated but found no evidence of wrongdoing. He couldn’t appear on NXT television without #FireVelveteenDream trending. Velveteen Dream was subsequently released from his WWE contract on May 20, 2021, after five months of inactivity.

Clark’s legal issues persisted in August 2022, with two arrests in Florida: one for first-degree battery and trespassing, and another for possessing drug paraphernalia, though these charges were later dropped. After more than three years out of the wrestling spotlight, he made a return on February 18, 2024, at The Dynasty promotion, debuting under the new ring name Velveteen Man. He is working to rehabilitate his image, but he obviously has a long road to redemption ahead of him.

The promoter of Dynasty Wrestling has defended booking Patrick Clark for an event following backlash among fans. 

Clark, known for his time as Velveteen Dream in WWE NXT, appeared at a Dynasty event in New York last month. The show marked Clark’s first wrestling appearance since his release from WWE in 2021. 

The former NXT North American champion was let go following allegations that he had sent explicit messages and photos to minors. WWE said they found no evidence in their investigation, though one of Clark’s accusers would later state that they were never contacted for the investigation. 

Dynasty Defends Clark Booking

The choice to feature Clark at the event was met with heavy backlash, especially as fans were not informed of his presence at the show ahead of time. One of Dynasty’s ex-talent also believed that Clark’s involvement sent the wrong message. 

Speaking to Bucklebomb Entertainment, Dynasty promoter Chris Envy spoke highly of Clark. 

“He is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. We spent a couple hours together that day. He was so nice, one of the nicest people… He said hello to everybody, he took pictures, class act all around.”

Many fans took issue with Clark appearing on the same show as Rita Chatterton. The former WWE referee has alleged for years that she was raped by Vince McMahon in the 1980s. In the interview, Envy claimed that Chatterton supported Clark at the event. 

“They were shoulder to shoulder, there was nothing uncomfortable about the situation. She told me to give him her number and have him reach out to her.”

Envy argued that it ultimately comes down to the Dynasty fans, who he believes would be excited to see Vince McMahon despite the allegations against the ex-WWE Chairman. 

“All these people that are coming at me, ‘you’re not family entertainment.’ It’s easy to say that, but if I had Vince McMahon on my next show, all those clowns would still be buying tickets.”

What’s Next?

Patrick Clark hasn’t competed since the Dynasty Wrestling show. In the interview, Envy said that he he has had talks with Clark regarding future bookings and that other promoters have reached out to ask about obtaining Clark’s services. 

H/T – Fightful

Welcome to SEScoops’ Daily Drop – a rundown of the top stories in pro wrestling all in one place.

Our mission is to provide our readers with the most important and interesting news from WWE, AEW and more that’s timely, informative and engaging. The Daily Drop is a destination where you can get a snapshot of the top stories in wrestling.

• WrestleMania 40 COUNTDOWN: 47 days away

Here’s the Daily Drop news report for Wednesday, February 19, 2024:

WWE

– The Rock is staying in Daytona for the second day of NASCAR’s big race. The race was delayed due to rain, but Dwayne Johnson isn’t leaving until he tells drivers to start their engines.

–Ex WWE Superstar Mandy Rose revealed that one of her fans once dropped $55,000 on her FanTime account. That was a pretty crazy story.

– LA Knight is being considered for a big title match at WrestleMania 40.

– Fans aren’t happy that Ex WWE NXT Superstar Velveteen Dream made his return to pro wrestling.

– Indi Hartwell isn’t happy at all that she didn’t get an Elimination Chamber qualifying match, especially since she is from Australia. 

AEW

– Orange Cassidy made a very surprising debut for RevPro as AEW International Champion.

– Malakai Black made his in-ring return, but it wasn’t during an AEW event. He competed at the Dark Arts gym. His last singles match took place in September 2022 when he competed for PRESTIGE. Meanwhile, his last singles match in AEW took place in June 2022.

https://twitter.com/PuroresuFlow/status/1759346418035069250

What’s Next

– WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth takes place next Saturday, February 24.

– AEW Dynamite: Big Business is coming to Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.

– AEW Revolution takes place the following weekend on Sunday, March 3.

– WWE NXT Stand & Deliver will be on the afternoon of April 6th, right before the first night of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.

– WrestleMania XL will take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, airing as a two-part event.

– Backlash France will be held on May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.

– WWE NXT Battleground is scheduled for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, and will be available exclusively on the WWE Network and Peacock.

– WWE Money in the Bank will take place on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.

– WWE Bash In Berlin is set for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

A former wrestler for Dynasty Wrestling has spoken out against the promotion for using Patrick Clark at one of their recent events. 

Clark, better known to fans as Velveteen Dream, was part of a show earlier this month that marked the former WWE NXT Superstar’s return to wrestling. In 2020, Clark faced allegations of sending inappropriate messages to minors. WWE claimed that their investigation into the matter showed no proof of misconduct, though one of Clark’s accusers would state that WWE never reached out as part of their investigation. After massive fan backlash, Clark was released from WWE in 2021. 

Terra Calaway on Dynasty Wrestling

Given the allegations Clark has faced as well as additional run-ins with the law, Dynasty’s decision to use him at their event has received a mixed response from fans. On Twitter, Dynasty defended using Clark, saying they wanted to give somebody a second chance to live out their dream. 

This message caught the attention of Terra Calaway, a former member of the Dynasty Wrestling roster. In a tweet of her own, Calaway shared her disappointment and disgust at using Clark. Calaway, a victim of sexual assault, said that using Clark made it clear that victims are not safe at Dynasty Wrestling. 

As a former member of your roster and a sexual assault victim, I am so beyond disappointed and disgusted.

Thank you for showing other victims they are not safe in your locker room or your crowd. https://t.co/p9HoWbKXVg

— 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖗𝖊𝖝 (@TerraCalaway) February 18, 2024

Patrick Clark Outside of the Ring

Clark recently emerged in Culpeper and spoke at a County Board of Supervisors meeting. The former WWE NXT Superstar urged the board to prioritize the collective desires of the county’s residents and suggested potential drawbacks of solar power. In a recent video, Clark apologized to WWE and Triple H for causing them problems but stopped short of admitting to any of the allegations against him. 

Pro wrestling gets in your blood, and it’s hard to get out once you’ve started. Even for controversial figures, they find a way back in. Now, Velveteen Dream is making his mark in the pro wrestling world in his own way, years after his WWE release.

Velveteen Dream Returns

Velveteen Dream, now known as Patrick Clark, returned to wrestling, stepping back into the ring at Dynasty in New York. This was a big surprise, one that nobody saw coming.

YO ITS PATRICK CLARK (FKA velveteen dream) WTF pic.twitter.com/mkKMxXlOtO

— Za’Nief Washington (@zanief_) February 18, 2024

The former WWE NXT Superstar interrupted the first match and issued an open challenge. The responses online were shocked, and posts started coming out directly after that about Dream’s surprise.

Alec Odin took Dream’s open challenge. In the end, the former NXT North American Champion won the main event match. Dream was also working as a babyface and he greeted fans around the ring as well.

Velveteen Dream interrupts the opening match at Dynasty in Albany, NY. Makes an open challenge. pic.twitter.com/CgMrSUEbIt

— Headlocked Comics (@HeadlockedComic) February 18, 2024

Dream worked as a face, went over clean. Slapping hands with fans around the front row. pic.twitter.com/f1vpmZyVzs

— Headlocked Comics (@HeadlockedComic) February 18, 2024

Allegations Against Velveteen Dream

In March 2020, Patrick Clark faced allegations of inappropriate contact with a minor on social media. He addressed and denied the accusation in April 2020. During the Speaking Out movement in June 2020, Dream faced further accusations of inappropriate contact with a minor and grooming by pro wrestler Joshua Fuller.

WWE released Velveteen Dream in May 2021. On August 26, 2022, Dream was arrested in Orlando, Florida, on a charge of Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia. This followed an incident on August 20, 2022, at a gym in Florida where he allegedly assaulted an employee.

Patrick Clark’s Recent Advocacy

Prior to his return to the ring, Patrick Clark was also spotted in another settling that few saw coming. During the February 6th Culpeper County Board of Supervisors meeting, he urged the board to prioritize the collective desires of the county’s residents and suggested potential drawbacks of implementing large-scale solar power.

SEScoops will have more on this story and many more in the pro wrestling world. 

Velveteen Dream was released from WWE in 2021, and he hasn’t made any noise for another pro wrestling company since. That being said, headlines about the former NXT North American Champion were not hard to come by as arrests and other allegations followed him. Now, he is onto his next venture, and he’s advocating to preserve rural America. 

Velveteen Dream’s Next Phase

According to Star Exponent, Patrick Clark frequently visits Culpeper to reunite with family and appreciates its rural ambiance. Recently settling in the county for three months, he is introduced as the cousin of Don Haight, a Stevensburg farmer advocating for local farmer programs and the preservation of the county’s rural essence.

Although Clark originally hailed from Washington D.C, he has seemingly found a new home in Culpepper, and he loves the vibe there. During the February 6th Culpeper County Board of Supervisors meeting, he urged the board to prioritize the collective desires of the county’s residents and suggested potential drawbacks of implementing large-scale solar power. 

While expressing apprehension about technological and political changes, he cautioned against external influences jeopardizing Culpeper’s distinct identity.

“I’m afraid that there is a technological and a political gentrification that may occur if we allow outside forces to corrupt Culpeper.”

“Culpeper has this sweet nature to it, sweet as black garlic if you will. It’s got this nature that I’m afraid is going to be corrupted if you all let personal interest affect the decisions that affect the citizens of Culpeper.”

Clark also noted the backing the board receives from residents on this issue, drawing a parallel to his own encounter with dwindling support.

“I lost my job because I took for granted the support that was given to me by the people who paid good money to see me perform.”

In May 2017, Clark debuted a new Prince-inspired persona on NXT named Velveteen Dream. He gained traction and clinched the NXT North American Championship once. However, after a lengthy hiatus due to WWE’s investigation into allegations of Clark’s misconduct involving children, he was released from WWE in May 2021.

Allegations Against Patrick Clark

Patrick Clark was making reference to the allegations that surrounded his WWE departure. In April 2020, there were allegations of misconduct involving minors against Clark. He denied these allegations, and the WWE conducted an investigation, which found no evidence supporting the claims. He was never formally charged.

Allegations of drug use and setting up a camera in a bathroom to snap photos of male Superstars without consent were also made. His name has been ripe with controversy, and he has addressed these accusations in the past.

WWE tried to use Velveteen Dream on television after that, with Triple H even saying that they determined that nothing out of line happened after concluding an investiation. Still, #FireVelveteenDream popped up and trended on Twitter every time he made an appearance on television.

Former WWE Superstar Velveteen Dream made his views on law enforcement perfectly clear during his arrest earlier this year.

Dream, real name Patrick Clark, was part of 2015’s WWE Tough Enough and while he did not win, his impressive performance earned him an NXT contract.

In 2020, Clark was accused of sexual misconduct with minors, and while WWE claimed their investigation provided no evidence, he was quietly released from the company the next year.

Earlier this year, Clark was arrested after an incident at a gym, where it was alleged that he attacked and bit an employee at the facility.

The Video

In a new video published by TMZ, the former NXT Superstar can be seen being taken into custody by law enforcement.

Clark tells police that he did not commit battery and that they should allow him to call a lawyer.

The ex-Superstar can be heard ranting at the officers, before admitting that he is “a little drunk.”

Clark also repeatedly tells the police that he was never told his Miranda Rights and that his lawyer would file a lawsuit, adding that he is a “WWE wrestler.”

After the Arrest

After the arrest, Clark was officially charged with two misdemeanor counts of assault and trespassing, charges that he would plead not guilty to.

The former NXT North American Champion was released from jail on September 9, after posting a $1,200 bail.

The matter was disposed of in September after the claimed victim indicated he did not intend to prosecute.

Despite the controversy to his name, Clark has shown interest in being rehired by WWE and believes it could happen one day.

Former WWE star Velveteen Dream, real name Patrick Clark, is no longer facing a case regarding battery charges and trespassing on a property filed against him. 

After being arrested on August 20th, he was supposed to have a hearing on September 28th. However, court records show the case has been closed, and the scheduled hearing is canceled, according to PWinsider.com. 

The court records indicate that prosecutors believed they did not have enough to go forward with a case against Clark and get a conviction, so it was deemed “not suitable for prosecution.”

Velveteen Dream’s Legal Problems

It was previously reported that Clark and an employee of a fitness gym in Orlando got into an altercation when the former WWE star was asked to exit an area of the gym that was about to be cleaned. It was alleged that Clark became “irate and argumentative” towards the employee and was ordered to leave the facility.

Clark threatened to kill the employee, which sparked a physical fight, which saw Clark allegedly bite the man.  Authorities found teeth marks on the men’s “left chest near the left armpit.” Clark pleaded not guilty and was released on a $1,200 bond. 

This arrest led to a violation of an existing Clark probation stemming from a November 2021 arrest when he was charged with possession of cocaine, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, destroying/altering/concealing physical evidence, and having no lamps/illuminating devices in his vehicle. 

Clark was arrested for that violation and was jailed for 25 days in Seminole County, Florida, before being released on September 13th.

WWE employees have reached out to thank EC3 for his recent comments, according to the former Impact World Champion.

In recent weeks, EC3 and Patrick Clark have taken aim at each other, accusing one another of drug use and other actions.

Bathroom Camera

Earlier this month, EC3 claimed that he had invited Clark, aka Velveteen Dream, to a house party while both men were in NXT.

EC3, a former four-time WWE 24/7 Champion claimed that he found Clark’s phone in the bathroom of his house, and had been recording guests urinating without their consent.

Clark has responded saying that though his phone was in the bathroom, it was not recording, and proved it by showing others his phone’s videos, as well as those that had been recently deleted.

Clark has also claimed that EC3 accused him of this due to the hedonistic Velveteen Dream character he played in NXT.

Thanks

While speaking on The Wrestling Outlaws show, EC3 claimed that WWE employees have reached out to him over his allegations against the problematic ex-Superstar (via Sportskeeda.)

“What else could I possibly even say or bother to address? It’s done. He recorded people trying to urinate in my bathroom. That’s the truth. You asked me a question regarding this man who I haven’t thought about in many years, and that story came to mind.

“WWE employees thanked me for telling that story out loud, so there is no thought of bringing him back to the company from those said employees.”

EC3 was reportedly deemed a ‘public relations nightmare’ prior to his WWE release.

Patrick Clark

Despite hopes of returning to WWE one day, that looks incredibly unlikely for Patrick Clark.

Last month, Clark was arrested over an alleged battery case at a gym in Florida, and has pled not guilty to the charge.

Clark was also arrested over a probation violation, stemming from an arrest last November over possession of drug paraphilia.

The former NXT North American Champion served 25 days in jail before his release earlier this week.

EC3 has issued a response to Velveteen Dream’s recent allegations of cocaine use.

As noted, Patrick Clark, formerly known as Velveteen Dream in WWE, took to social media and issued out a video response to EC3 claiming that Clark once hid a camera in his home bathroom.

In the video response, Clark claimed that EC3 was drunk at a party that he and several other professional wrestlers had attended. Clark admitted to leaving his phone in the bathroom, but but was not filming anybody.

Later in the video, Clark alleged that EC3 uses cocaine and told him to “get your sh*t together.” Clark has since removed the video from his Instagram, but it can still be viewed here.

EC3 Responds

Now, EC3 has come out and responded to Clark’s accusations. In a statement to PWInsider, he notes he has never failed a drug test and added that he forgives Clark for filming in his home bathroom.

Here’s the full statement:

“In life, I forgive everyone for everything that has been done to me. I personally have never failed a drug test from any employer, nor been arrested for drug usage, paraphernalia, assault, battery, or any inappropriate behavior.

“My forgiveness includes Patrick Clark for setting up a video recording device in the bathroom of my home. As far as any other accusations and allegations against him, I hope that he finds the help he needs.”

Former WWE NXT Superstar Velveteen Dream has had a lot of controversy to his name, but he is denying claims recently made by EC3.

Dream, real name Patrick Clark, was once considered a future big name in WWE, after impressing audiences in the 2015 season of Tough Enough.

In 2020, allegations were made that Clark had sent explicit photos to minors, and while he admitted the photos were of him, Clark claimed his phone had been hacked.

Despite a WWE-led investigation finding no wrongdoing by Clark, he was released in May 2021.

EC3

Earlier this month, Clark faced a new accusation, this one may be fellow NXT alum EC3.

Speaking to Sportskeeda, EC3 accused Clark of hiding his camera phone in a bathroom at a party hosted by the former Impact World Champion.

EC3 said that Clark filmed the genitals of guests, including wrestlers, without their consent, and Sean Ross Sapp later reported that this had been a long-standing rumor.

The Response

Patrick Clark is used to being on the receiving end of accusations and has now responded to the claims.

In an Instagram video, Clark claimed that EC3 was very drunk at the party, and was slumped in a corner.

Clark said that while he did leave his phone in the bathroom, it was not filming people, and that EC3 has falsely accused him of the act.

Clark claimed that EC3, who is “not friends, at all” with him, made the claim as he was unaware of Clark’s sexuality, due to the hedonistic persona of the Velveteen Dream character.

Clark went on to detail handing a mutual friend his phone, noting that he showed him the “recently deleted” section of his phone as well, to prove that he was not recording him.

The Accusation

After receiving plenty of accusations, Patrick Clark has made an accusation of his own against EC3.

In the same video, Clark claimed that EC3 uses cocaine and encouraged him to “get your sh*t together.”

Clark also claimed that despite EC3’s negative comments about him, the Control Your Narrative founder follows him on Instagram, which was true at the time of the video being published.

The video has since been removed from Instagram, but can be seen here:

Last month, Patrick Clark, aka Velveteen Dream, was arrested twice.

On August 20, Clark was arrested over an alleged first-degree battery, and was arrested again six days later for a violation of probation by the Orlando Police Department.

Battery

TMZ has added new details to Clark’s first arrest from last month, which is reported to have happened around 8:45pm EST at the Club Orlando fitness facility in Orlando, Florida.

Officers connected to the case claimed that Clark was confronted by a senior employee of a gym, who informed the wrestler that he had to vacate the area of the gym as it was due to cleaning.

Clark reportedly became “irate and argumentative” and after things escalated, the ex-NXT Superstar was told to leave the gym entirely.

Threats

After being ordered to leave the gym, Clark is reported to have become more aggressive at the employee.

TMZ’s report states that Clark threatened to kill the man, before punching him in the face.

Officers said the gym employee told them the two then got into a fight, during which Clark bit him on the left side of his chest, near his armpit.

The two were separated by other employees of the gym.

According to the documents, officers arrested Clark after they observed teeth marks on the employee.

The Plea

According to court records, Clark has been charged with two misdemeanors: battery and trespassing on a property after warning.

Clark’s attorney has filed a not guilty plea in this case.

Velveteen Dream (Patrick Clark Jr.) was arrested last Friday in Orange County, Florida. He was charged with an out-of-county warrant for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Clark was reportedly also arrested on August 20th in Orlando for misdemeanor charges of battery and trespassing on property after receiving a warning.

Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Booker T spoke about Velveteen Dream on a recent episode of his podcast. Booker T was a judge during the 2015 season of Tough Enough and saw a lot of talent in him.

“Sad news about the Velveteen Dream, Patrick Clark. This kid who I got a chance to work with at Tough Enough. He’s a guy that I always said had a lot of talent. There’s another thing I always say too, you put yourself in a position, something might happen. It’s just the way the world works out man. I just hate to see it.

You know? I know the charges. Those are the alleged charges. I don’t know what that’s really about. Drug paraphernalia? You know, that could be some marijuana papers (laughs). So, I don’t know. But innocent until proven guilty. I get that too. But the perception in front of the public is something totally different.”

Booker T continued and said that it is sad to see what has happened to Velveteen Dream and hopes he can get back on track.

Public opinion is definitely real, and it’s just sad to see young men put themselves in position like for something to happen to them in this business. So, hopefully, young brother will get back on track. I really don’t have a lot of information as far as, you know, what really went down, but I know he was campaigning to get back into, you know, the company. There again, man, talent, talent.That character was money. Money! But there again, will we ever see it again? I don’t know man. I dont know.

Booker T on Velveteen Dream (23:01-24:32)

Booker T Doesn’t Believe WWE Will Ever Re-Sign Velveteen Dream

The 57-year-old discussed Velveteen Dream earlier this month on his podcast, well before these two arrests took place. Booker didn’t think he was ever going to return to the company at the time, so it seems incredibly unlikely now.

Velveteen Dream was accused of sexual misconduct in 2020 but was not released from the promotion until May 2021. Booker claimed that the former NXT North American Champion could have had an incredible career in WWE but has likely thrown it away.

“Sometimes, you can never find your way back from it and I think Velveteen Dream is going to be one of those guys that would’ve had a hell of a career if…That’s the end of that story.“

Please credit the Hall of Fame podcast and SEScoops for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.

Former WWE star Velveteen Dream was arrested on multiple charges earlier this month.

As we noted, Dream, real name Patrick Clark, was arrested on August 26 for “possession of drug paraphernalia” in Florida. However, it looks like Clark has been having some trouble quite frequently as of late.

PWInsider reports that, upon checking court records, this wasn’t Clark’s first arrest of the month. Clark was also arrested on the 20th by Orlando Police for First Degree Battery and Trespassing on property after a warning.

Each of those are first degree misdemeanors. He bonded out the following day on the 21st for $1,200 and plead not guilty. Clark had an arraignment hearing scheduled for September 28 at 1pm ET. However, that hearing is now listed as canceled.

The victim in the case has also requested confidentiality. Clark’s only other violation was listed for a March 2021 traffic violation, for which he paid the ticket.

Clark competed in WWE from 2015 to 2021. He was a competitor on the NXT brand where he was a one-time NXT North American Champion. Clark was released from his WWE contract in May of 2021.

This was shortly after some allegations against Clark of sexual harassment against a minor.

Former WWE star The Velveteen Dream, real name Patrick Clark, was arrested on August 26th in Orange County, Florida.

As of this writing, there are not many details available regarding the arrest, although county records state he was charged on an out-of-county warrant for possession of drug paraphernalia. We hope to have more details shortly. 

Downfall Of The Velveteen Dream

In 2020, Clark was accused of having inappropriate contact with a minor. He hasn’t worked a match since December 23, 2020. He was released from WWE NXT in May 2021. 

There were several reports about the decision made by WWE to let him go ranging from allegations to behavioral issues to problems with fellow wrestlers. Clark previously stated in his statement that the accusations against him from April 2020 were the reason why he was fired.

Last July, he did have his first post-WWE booking lined up until it got canceled. 

Clark has been hinting on social media that he was going to make an effort to get back in WWE and added the #BringBackVelveteenDream hashtag to his Instagram account.

Clark has yet to publicly commented on his arrest.

Velveteen Dream (Patrick Clark) got released from WWE NXT in May 2021 following several reports ranging from allegations to behavioral issues. Dream still wants to work with WWE, as he took to his Instagram and posted a story with the message for the company and the fans.

In the message, Dream mentioned that the allegations that were made against him are not true. He said he beat those “trashy and unsavory” allegations. Dream concisely added that he’d still like to have a career with the WWE. He wrote:

“Despite trashy and unsavory allegations against me that I have beat! I’d still like to have a career with n the E. @wwenxt I was never guilty and I got a hell of a lot of talent. I’m only 26. LFG IM READY TO GO THE SHOW WHAT IT SHOULD BE [sic]”

Velveteen Dream was one of the biggest names in WWE NXT. He is a one-time NXT North American Champion. Dream was pretty popular during his stint with the brand. He had big potential and had a promising future in the company, had he stayed. His last match with the promotion was at against Adam Cole in a losing effort on December 23, 2020 edition of NXT.

There were reports that suggested that Dream was released due to some behavioral issues that one of the top stars reported to the management, and not because of any accusations. However, Dream has stated that the accusations against him were the reason that he was fired. In January, he opened up in an interview Dishing Drama with Dana Wilkey and called the allegations “100% bullsh*t”.

“WWE, in the middle of cancel culture, found itself at a loss. Money talks and they have shareholders. Even if they found me to be innocent, now, I’m affecting the bottom line, at least the bottom line they have with me, the money they can make with me, the way they can utilize me on TV. That’s what it cost me. It cost me my career. It cost me a chance to not only continue a dream, but almost have guaranteed support for my family. It was horrible. As soon as I got fired, the air cleared. Everyone deleted their messages, everyone deleted their vlogs. No one had nasty, rude hateful messages to send. It all stopped. It was as if the job got done and now we can all live our lives, except for the guy playing Velveteen Dream, me.”

Following The Velveteen Dream (Patrick Clark) getting released from WWE NXT in May 2021, there were several reports regarding the decision to let him go ranging from allegations to behavioral issues to problems with fellow wrestlers. 

Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Dream’s firing had nothing to do with the accusations or anything that was made public about him. Instead, it was due to an incident that one of the top stars reported to management.

Dream previously stated in his statement that the accusations against him from April 2020 were the reason why he was fired. He backed up that belief while speaking on Dishing Drama with Dana Wilkey. Regarding the allegations, he called them “100% bullshit.” 

This is when he opened up on the firing and cited Josh Fuller as the person who started the #FireVelveteenDream: 

“I’d like to throw this in there as well, Josh Fuller was the one that when he decided to show up on social media with his bullshit allegations, he started the hashtag Fire Velveteen Dream. That’s what it cost me. An investigation was done by WWE, our COO Paul Levesque, better known as Triple H, went on record and said there was nothing that WWE found that would incriminate me or cause any concern for the company, a company who sells to children, and I’m being accused of soliciting sex for minors. Come on. WWE found nothing. They even tried to put me back in a program with one of their top stars and then after the Fire Velveteen Dream hashtag blew up, they were doing the digital audience and someone showed up, in their place instead of a person it hashtag Fire Velveteen Dream.”

Dream continued by recalling how WWE tried to give him time and distance himself from it, but the hashtag was continuing to trend every time that he would appear on TV. 

“WWE, in the middle of cancel culture, found itself at a loss. Money talks and they have shareholders. Even if they found me to be innocent, now, I’m affecting the bottom line, at least the bottom line they have with me, the money they can make with me, the way they can utilize me on TV. That’s what it cost me. It cost me my career. It cost me a chance to not only continue a dream, but almost have guaranteed support for my family. It was horrible. As soon as I got fired, the air cleared. Everyone deleted their messages, everyone deleted their vlogs. No one had nasty, rude hateful messages to send. It all stopped. It was as if the job got done and now we can all live our lives, except for the guy playing Velveteen Dream, me.”

He hasn’t worked a match since December 23, 2020. Last July, he did have his first post-WWE booking lined up until it got canceled. 

H/T to Fightful for the transcription

Former WWE Superstar Velveteen Dream (Patrick Clark) was briefly advertised to appear at an upcoming independent wrestling show. He was quickly pulled from the event after “careful consideration” by the promoter.

Dream was released by WWE back in May. The controversial former NXT wrestler had his WWE career derailed after numerous ‘sexual misconduct’ allegations.

• Update On Events That Led To Velveteen Dream’s WWE Release

New Jersey-based promotion SWF announced Velveteen Dream would appear at their Home Sweet Home event on September 11th from Toms River, New Jersey. This would have been his return to the public eye.

Within a matter of hours of Velveteen Dream being advertised for SWF Home Sweet Home, plans changed. SWF owner Rob Fury issued a statement on social media addressing the situation.

Fury wrote, “I believe any man can be slandered and have been through other situations in my life unrelated but untrue. After careful consideration, Dream has been removed.”

Patrick Clark issued a lengthy statement following his WWE release, which you can read here.

Earlier this month, The Velveteen Dream (Patrick Clark) was released from WWE NXT. 

His release came after he hadn’t been seen on TV since his December 2020 loss to Adam Cole. It turns out his departure was not related to the allegations against him, but rather it came after a top talent went to management to alert them about an incident that Dream was involved in, according to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 

As it stands right now, there’s no word yet on which star came forward or what the incident was about. 

Shortly after his release, it was reported Dream had behavioral issues during his time with the company but stayed on the roster because he had support from higher management, and this caused concern among Dream’s co-workers. 

Regarding these issues, it was said this period came from his time in NXT, and from when he went to other places such as EVOLVE.

Dream had issued a lengthy statement on his departure this week where he blamed the allegations for not only derailing any upward momentum he had with the company but thinks his release was due to the allegations. He did declare that the “Dream is officially over” but Patrick Clark will live to fight another day.

Former WWE Superstar Velveteen Dream (Patrick Clark) has issued a lengthy statement about his release from the company. He also defends himself against the sexual misconduct allegations that he feels derailed his wrestling career.

Velveteen Dream wrote on Instagram, “The allegations from April 20, 2020 have effectively derailed any upward momentum I had professionally. And has ultimately resulted in my termination with WWE. My name is Patrick Clark, not the Velveteen Dream. Velveteen Dream is a character that I have spent years developing and trying to bring to life. The success of the Dream character relied heavily on kayfabe, my ability to blur Patrick Clark from Tough Enough with this over the top personality.”

He says his character was conceptualized the day legendary pop music star Prince passed away on April 21, 2016. He says he knew “nothing” about Prince at this time, but recognized Prince’s image could be leveraged to produce a captivating wrestling gimmick.

“The character was conceptualized the day Prince passed, April 21, 2016. I knew nothing about him at that time, but my thinking was that I could use my interpretation of Prince to create an onscreen personality vastly different from who I am as a person. *Cue Velveteen Dream: A Sexually Ambiguous, Gender Fluid, Self Absorbed Diva. And as I learned more about Prince I began to tame certain aspects of the character. Aspects that I deemed way too over the top and inconsistent with who Prince was as a performer”

Velveteen Dream Addresses The Allegations

“The night of April 20, from my verified Instagram account I [posted] a story to my followers letting them know that my DMs had been open. I received a few different messages ranging from support, to heckling, and some inquiring about how to get started in pro wrestling. I responded to a few, but not all, and in their conversation Jaccob shared his interest in working as a wrestler one day and asked what steps would be required. I messaged a short list of things he should consider if he was serious: Physique and Promo to start, Physique, because as an independent contractor no-one is going to make you train and eat in a way that creates the aesthetic of a believable pro wrestler. And promo because our job is to sell drama, and you can’t rely on someone flipping channels to stop to watch a choreographed fight, you’re more likely to grab their attention looking into a camera with a strong impassioned 30 second monologue. I also inquired about which schools he was closest to in relation to wrestling training, his weight, and his height.

Jaccob explained how anxious he felt messaging me and asked me to verify it was really me. I did find it strange, because I have a blue check, but as a lifelong fan I remember meet and greets and the days I would message wrestlers hoping to be seem, so I chalked it up to his innocence and sent a voice message in my Velveteen Dream voice, as to keep kayfabe, The full voice message has me asking Jacob about his height, weight, where he trained, and what school he attended. Which Jaccob answered back with a voice message and I continued to answer his questions until I politely wrapped up the conversation. April 21 I woke up to notifications of tags of created screenshots and videos of a conversation I didn’t have with Jaccob. I immediately contacted WWE’s talent relations and social media departments as to begin an investigation. Even after the investigation, WWE released a statement maintaining my innocence. The part that hurt for me was having a personal picture that I’ve used in my personal life, on apps, being used to label me as a predator. I am in now way of the word a predator. This is the first and only time I’ve been accused of solicitation to anyone.

Until I was accused of grooming by Joshua Fuller, unlike Jaccob, I know Josh. I met Josh after my stint on Tough Enough in (2015) at a meet and greet. And we developed a friendship through a mutual trainer at GXW. Josh shared to Twitter screenshots of the first time we communicated through text (2016), and autographed picture from when we met, and an extremely contradictory story. Josh alleged that I made him feel uncomfortable but contradicts himself twice by saying I was never sexual towards him. For those willng to research Josh’s tweet accusing me: Josh’s messages are in blue and mine in grey. Josh claimed that he was a 16-year-old high school graduate and that he takes “yearly trips” with his friend to Orlando, FL.

I doubted that when he told me, yet I kept my replies diplomatic and professional. The reality of the situation is that I was very helpful and respectful to Josh. Josh lives with his grandparents in rural southern Maryland. Josh got a concussion (2017) and against my advice, insisted on wrestling. My worry came from Josh severaly injurying himself, specifically his brain. I suggested he take time off from training to see a doctor. He declined because he believed he could work through the concussion, and I cut all communication with him in 2018 because I didn’t want to be partially responsible had he worsened his injury. So to have him accuse me of predatory behavior because I chose not to help was spiteful.

Josh and Jaccob are 2 of MANY people that I’ve helped. Yet these are the only two who have found me to be malicious and predatory in how I go about helping others. What wasn’t shared at the time

• Josh Fuller reached out to Jaccob over social media before Josh put out his own accusation. When this came out Josh Fuller temporarily deleted his Twitter account @joshfullerpw
• Which is important because in all the social media confusion, Josh Fuller is the only one who suggested that an investigation had not been done and that he had not been contacted.
• Jaccob deleted his social media after he was outed for being a member of an anti-black group chat.
• There is a public forum, wwe lpsg stars where people are buying, selling and sharing explicit photos and videos of multiple wrestlers and no-one has done anything to have this site taken down.

All in all this entire experience defamed my character and ultimately accomplished what it sought out to do and that was to see me released. My hope is that over time people can put 2 and 2 together and realize that all the allegations surrounding me were baseless and untrue from jump. I felt strongly about not needing to defend myself on social media for a while now, but I understand the audience I work for and those who know me deserve clarity. I’m thankful for the opportunities afforded to me and the memories I have as a receipt. GOD HAS ALWAYS HAD ME AND HE ALWAYS WILL. DREAM IS OFFICIALLY OVER BUT Patrick Clark LIVES TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY”

Credit to Liam Winnard of WrestleTalk for transcribing Velveteen Dream’s Statement

The Velveteen Dream was released by WWE on Thursday after he hadn’t appeared on NXT TV since dropping a loss to Adam Cole in December. He was backstage at Monday Night Raw back on May 10th, but wasn’t scheduled to appear. 

It turns out that Dream reportedly had some behavioral issues. He also had support from higher-ups in the company.

Bryan Alvarez noted on today’s Wrestling Observer Live that Dream had friends in WWE who were “very” high up in the company, which led to some people feeling uncomfortable with going to management about his behavior because he was close with management.

It was indicated that Dream’s release was not due to previous allegations against him. Instead, it was more because of the behavioral issues as there had been talk about his issues from his time in NXT, and from when he went to other promotions such as EVOLVE. 

He worked three dates for EVOLVE – in 2018 and 2019. Dream was training at the WWE Performance Center as recently as last week. 

There’s still no word yet on what he might be planning for his future but will have at least 30 days to figure it out as he is under a standard 30-day non-compete clause with his NXT contract. On June 19th, he will be free to sign with other companies. 

WWE quietly letting Velveteen Dream go became a talking point among fans yesterday when the news about his release from the company broke online.

Among the people who reacted to the news was longtime WWE artist Rob Schamberger who made some interesting comments about the former NXT star.

Schamberger reacted to the news not long after it came out. He took Twitter to describe Dream as the ‘most unprofessional person’ he has encountered:

“Without saying anything further: He was the single most unprofessional person I’ve encountered in this business. I hope this is the wake up call he needs to start doing the emotional work to become a better person. All told.”

Rob Schamberger has had a long standing relationship with WWE and his work is printed on a variety of merchandise sold by the company. He also holds Canvas 2 Canvas show on YouTube in collaboration with WWE Network.

Velveteen Dream signed with WWE back in October 2015 after competing in the sixth season of Tough Enough. He acquired the Dream Moniker in May 2017 and received praise for his work with the new character.

• Triple H On Allegations Against Velveteen Dream: “We Didn’t Find Anything”

However, he was accused of inappropriate behavior with underage boys and girls in 2020, leading to his removal from WWE programming.

While the officials initially claimed that they didn’t find anything in their investigation against Dream, it was reported yesterday that the NXT star has been released from his contract.

Velveteen Dream has been released by WWE. The news was first reported by PWInsider and we have since confirmed the news independently.

Once seen as one of the hottest prospects in NXT, Velveteen Dream was accused of sending lewd messages to a minor last year. WWE officials stated on multiple occasions that they took the allegations seriously, but their internal investigation was inconclusive.

Velveteen Dream has been off television for some time, but was backstage at a recent WWE Raw taping. This led to speculation that he’d be joining the main roster soon, but it was not meant to be. His last televised match took place on the December 23rd, 2020 edition of NXT.

Velveteen Dream (real name) Patrick Clark signed a developmental deal with WWE in 2015. He had previously competed on the 6th season of the Tough Enough reality show competition. He debuted the Dream gimmick in May of 2017.

Earlier this week, WWE also released several people from NXT, including referee Drake Wuertz, Jessamyn Duke, Vanessa Borne, Skyler Story, Ezra Judge, Alexander Wolfe and Kavita Devi. WWE has yet to publicly acknowledge any of the cuts.

Velveteen Dream’s presence backstage at this week’s episode of Raw became a topic of discussion among fans making many wonder if the company had any plans for him to appear on the show.

PWinsider has now provided some update on the situation and the site reports that despite his presence, there were no plans for Dream to appear on the show at any point.

He hasn’t been seen much at the Performance Center in recent months either and there is no word on why he was brought in at the tapings. Dream has not appeared on WWE programming since his match with Adam Cole during the December 23 episode of NXT.

On a related note, the site notes that Mansoor was originally scheduled to appear on this week’s episode of the red branded show but he was pulled from the episode after the plans changed.

Mansoor officially became a Raw star last week. He also made his in-ring debut for the brand during the show. He competed against Sheamus in a singles match. Mansoor lost the bout by DQ when Humberto Carrillo attacked the US champion.

• Triple H On Velveteen Dream’s Absence, Pat McAfee’s Future With WWE

Regarding this week’s match between Sheamus and Carrillo, the original plan was for Sheamus to win clean before the match had to be stopped by the referee due to a botched Sunset Flip Powerbomb.

Humberto has since been cleared to compete by the doctors and according to the report; he will only be missing ring time if the company decides to sell the finish of that bout.

Velveteen Dream hasn’t wrestled a match in WWE since December. He was defeated by Adam Cole on the “Very Gargano Christmas” episode of NXT that aired on December 23rd.

According to a report from the Wrestling Observer, Dream was backstage at RAW last night. It is not known why he was there or if there were plans to use him on the show, however.

Last year, Dream was the subject of multiple allegations of inappropriate communication with minors. He has denied all allegations and Triple H has issued several statements saying WWE looked into the allegations against him and determined there was nothing to them.

“Everything that we have done, we are comfortable with him continuing to do what he does and everything else,” Triple H said about Dream last summer.

“We looked into what was there and we didn’t find anything,” Triple H also said.

“You know, in this day today, accusations are made and you take them all very seriously,” Triple H continued. “You look into them the best you can, and you find out what is there and what isn’t. In this situation, (Dream) was also involved in a car accident. That’s what took him off TV. In the moment, all this other stuff happens and you look into it and you find that there is a situation that people bring to everyone’s attention, you look into it and find that it is what it is and there’s nothing there.”

Triple H has since sounded annoyed when similar questions regarding Velveteen Dream have been asked at other media events.

“There’s really nothing to add with Velveteen Dream. We’ve gone over it a million times. Status update – he’s still training,” Triple H said on a call in February. “He had a little bit of a physical thing here for a bit. But, still there, still with us, still PC, still training, still on the roster.”

A since-deleted Tweet from Dream following the allegations stated as follows:

“Be assured I did not communicate inappropriately with anyone. A private photo of mine was shared without my consent or knowledge and I am working with a third party to look into this matter,” Dream Tweeted.