The Patriot (wrestler)
The Patriot | |
---|---|
Birth name | Del Wilkes |
Born | Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.[1] | December 21, 1961
Died | June 30, 2021 Newberry, South Carolina, U.S. | (aged 59)
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Del Wilkes The Patriot[1] The Trooper[1] |
Billed height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)[2] |
Billed weight | 275 lb (125 kg)[2] |
Billed from | Washington, D.C. (WCW) Columbia, South Carolina (WWF) |
Trained by | Verne Gagne The Fabulous Moolah[1] |
Debut | 1988 |
Retired | 1998 |
Delbert Alexander "Del" Wilkes, Jr.
College football career
Wilkes was heavily recruited as an offensive lineman at Columbia's
Professional wrestling career
American Wrestling Association (1988–1991)
Del Wilkes, who from 1980 to 1984 played
Global Wrestling Federation (1991–1992)
Wilkes then went on to the Global Wrestling Federation as a fan favorite and became "The Patriot", where he was crowned the first GWF Television Champion in a tournament in 1991. Soon afterwards, the Patriot feuded with Al Perez over the GWF North American Heavyweight Championship, which he won initially on August 10, but the victory was disputed. He won the title again in a rematch against Perez two weeks later. In September 1991, a man calling himself the Dark Patriot appeared in the GWF. For several months, he taunted the Patriot and claimed that he was the Patriot's dark side. On January 31, 1992, the Dark Patriot faced the Patriot in a title match. The Patriot lost the title and left the GWF.
World Wrestling Federation (1991–1992)
Wrestling as The Trooper, Wilkes received a tryout match at a WWF Superstars taping in Rockford, Illinois on May 6, 1991, when he defeated WT Jones. The following day in Green Bay, Wisconsin at a Wrestling Challenge taping Wilkes defeated
All Japan Pro Wrestling (1992–1994)
In 1992, during his stint in the GWF, Wilkes went to wrestle in All Japan Pro Wrestling. He had success with Jackie Fulton who wrestled as "The Eagle" to match Wilkes' Patriot gimmick.[8] On June 2, 1993, The Patriot and the Eagle defeated Kenta Kobashi and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi to win the All Asia Tag Team Championship.[9] The Patriot would hold onto the titles for three months, eventually losing them on September 9, 1993, to Doug Furnas and Dan Kroffat. In late 1993, The Patriot and The Eagle entered the 1993 World's Strongest Tag Determination League where they finished in 7th place with 4 Points.[10]
World Championship Wrestling (1994–1995)
In 1994, Wilkes signed with
Return to AJPW (1995–1997)
After no-showing the
On January 2, 1996, Wilkes won All Japan's yearly January 2 Heavyweight Battle Royal to give him his second All Japan achievement. For the battle royal victory, Wilkes ended his team with Ace and went into the midcard with little direction. In the spring of 1996, Wilkes entered the 1996
In early 1997, Wilkes and Kobashi reunited with Johnny Ace and the three formed the stable: GET (Global, Energetic, Tough).[17] Wilkes involvement with the group only lasted a few months as he left All Japan in July 1997.
World Wrestling Federation (1997–1998)
On June 30, 1997, he was defeated by
Personal life
After leaving the WWF, Wilkes retired due to the aforementioned torn triceps. Wilkes admitted that he had used
In a July 25, 2007, interview with
Death
Wilkes died of a heart attack on June 30, 2021, at the age of 59.[3][29]
Championships and accomplishments
- All Japan Pro Wrestling
- All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time)[1][8] – with The Eagle
- January 2 Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal (1996)[30]
- American Wrestling Association
- Global Wrestling Federation
- GWF North American Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[32]
- GWF Television Championship (1 time, inaugural)[1][33]
- GWF Television Championship Tournament (June 1991)
- GWF North American Heavyweight Championship Tournament (1991)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- World Championship Wrestling
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "The Patriot profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved September 12, 2009.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
- ^ a b "Delbert "Del" Alexander Wilkes, Jr. Obituary". whitakerfuneralhome.com. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ "Gamecock Greatness: USC's All-Time Roster".
- ^ PWI Strips the AWA of World Title Status Pro Wrestling Illustrated May 1991
- ^ "1991". thehistoryofwwe.com. January 16, 2023.
- ^ "1992". thehistoryofwwe.com. January 16, 2023.
- ^ ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Purolove.Com. Purolove.Com. Retrieved on November 24, 2015.
- ^ Purolove.Com. Purolove.Com. Retrieved on November 24, 2015.
- ^ a b Solie's Title Histories: WCW. Solie.org. Retrieved on November 24, 2015.
- ^ Purolove.Com. Purolove.Com. Retrieved on November 24, 2015.
- ^ Purolove.Com. Purolove.Com. Retrieved on November 24, 2015.
- ^ Purolove.Com. Purolove.Com. Retrieved on November 24, 2015.
- ^ Purolove.Com. Purolove.Com. Retrieved on November 24, 2015.
- ^ Purolove.Com. Purolove.Com. Retrieved on November 24, 2015.
- ^ GET « Stables Database. Cagematch.net. Retrieved on November 24, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Cawthon, Graham (1997). "WWF – 1997 Results". The History of WWE. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
- ^ "WWF Shotgun Saturday Night #27 Taping". The Internet Wrestling Database. June 30, 1997. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
- ^ Petrie, John (July 14, 1997). "WWF Raw July 14, 1997". The Other Arena. Archived from the original on May 17, 2001. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
- ^ Petrie, John (July 28, 1997). "WWF Raw July 28, 1997". The Other Arena. Archived from the original on May 20, 2001. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
- ^ Petrie, John (August 11, 1997). "WWF Raw August 11, 1997". The Other Arena. Archived from the original on September 4, 2001. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
- ^ Powell, John (September 8, 1997). "Hit Man Dismantles The Patriot". Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
- ^ "WWF One Night Only". The Internet Wrestling Database. September 20, 1997. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
- ^ Powell, John (October 6, 1997). "Undertaker Gets Cain-ed At Badd Blood". Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
- ^ "Del Wilkes Profile & Match Listing". The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
- ^ "A journey through steroids, injuries, pain pills and prison". USA Today. March 12, 2004. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
- ^ CNN – Death Grip: Inside Pro Wrestling. YouTube.com (June 17, 2011). Retrieved on 2015-11-24.
- ^ Mooneyham, Mike (July 1, 2021). "Del Wilkes, former Gamecocks football star and pro wrestler, dies at 59". The Post and Courier. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ "AJPW New Year Giant Series 1996 - Tag 1". Cagematch.net. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Inspirational Wrestler of the Year". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on June 16, 2008. Retrieved July 27, 2008.
- ^ Del Wilkes « Wrestlers Database. Cagematch.net (December 24, 2014). Retrieved on 2015-11-24.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on February 27, 2009. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
External links
- Del Wilkes at IMDb
- Del The Patriot Wilkes Facebook page
- Del Wilkes on Twitter
- The Patriot's profile at Cagematch.net , Wrestlingdata.com , Internet Wrestling Database