The Patriot

The Patriot
Birth name	Del Wilkes
Born	December 21, 1961(1961-12-21)
	Columbia, South Carolina, United States
Died	July 1, 2021(2021-07-01) (aged 59)
Cause of death	Heart attack
Spouse(s)	Cathy Wilkes (Present)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Del Wilkes The Patriot The Trooper
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	275 lb (125 kg)
Billed from	Washington, D.C. (WCW) Columbia, South Carolina (WWF)
Trained by	Verne Gagne The Fabulous Moolah
Debut	1988
Retired	2000

Del Wilkes (December 21, 1961 – July 1, 2021) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring names, The Trooper and The Patriot. Over the course of his nine-year career, Wilkes wrestled for the American Wrestling Association, the Global Wrestling Federation, All Japan Pro Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and the World Wrestling Federation.

Professional wrestling career

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. On June 2, 1993, The Patriot and the Eagle defeated Kenta Kobashi and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi to win the All Asia Tag Team Championship. 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.

Return to AJPW (1995–1997)

After no-showing the Slamboree pay-per-view in May 1995, he returned to AJPW. He quickly formed a tag team with Johnny Ace. On August 30, 1995, Wilkes and Ace challenged The Holy Demon Army for the World Tag Team Championship but lost. The two then entered the 1995 World's Strongest Tag Determination League where they finished in 4th place with 13 points.

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 Champion Carnival where he finished in 9th place with 6 points. In the summer of 1996, Wilkes formed a tag team with Kenta Kobashi, on October 12, 1996, they challenged Steve Williams and Johnny Ace for the World Tag Team Championship but they came up short. In November 1996, Wilkes and Kobashi entered the 1996 World's Strongest Tag Determination League where they finished in 3rd place with 16 points, Wilkes even scored a pinfall victory over Toshiaki Kawada.

In early 1997, Wilkes and Kobashi reunited with Johnny Ace and the three formed the stable: GET (Global, Energetic, Tough). Wilkes involvement with the group only lasted a few months as he left All Japan in July 1997.

Personal life

After leaving the WWF, Wilkes retired due to torn triceps. Since leaving the business, Wilkes admitted that he had used steroids and cocaine during his career, starting with his college football days. He spent nine months in prison in 2002 for forging a prescription due to his addiction to painkillers. As of July 2007, Wilkes has since quit drugs and today Wilkes works at Dick Smith Nissan as a Car Salesman and resides in Columbia, South Carolina. with his wife, Cathy.

In a July 25, 2007 interview with WACH reporter Justin Kier, Wilkes discussed his career, steroid use, the Chris Benoit tragedy, and various other topics. Kier's last two questions involved saying goodbye to the fans and giving advice to youngsters in the wrestling business. Wilkes urged young wrestlers to "learn from our mistakes." He said that 50 people who he once worked with in the wrestling business are now dead.

Wilkes has appeared on two episodes of Stone Cold Steve Austin's Podcast: #232 and #278.

Death

Wilkes died of a heart attack on July 1, 2021 at the age of 59.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves

• Bridging full nelson suplex
• Patriot Missile (Diving shoulder block)

• Signature moves

• Uncle Slam (Full nelson slam)

• Entrance themes

• "Dead Or Alive" by Deep Purple (AJPW, 1990–1991)
• "Black Magic" by Reb Beach (AJPW, 1992–1993, 1995–1997)

Championships and accomplishments

• All Japan Pro Wrestling

• All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with The Eagle
• January 2 Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal (1996)

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (1991)
• PWI ranked him #55 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1991
• PWI ranked him #208 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003