Del Wilkes

Delbert Alexander Wilkes Jr. was an American professional wrestler and former college football player. Born December 21, 1961 in Columbia, South Carolina, he performed as The Trooper and later as The Patriot, a masked patriotic character that became his signature. Over a decade-long career, Wilkes competed in the American Wrestling Association, Global Wrestling Federation, All Japan Pro Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and the World Wrestling Federation. He won the GWF North American Heavyweight Championship and the AJPW World Tag Team Championship. Wilkes is best remembered for his 1997 WWF feud with Bret Hart, where he challenged for the WWF Championship. His high-energy style and the Patriot Missile flying clothesline made him a fan favorite during the 1990s wrestling boom.[edit]

Wilkes grew up in Columbia, South Carolina, where athletics dominated his early life. He attended the University of South Carolina and played offensive line for the Gamecocks football team from 1980 to 1984. Teammates recalled his exceptional strength and work ethic. After college, he decided to pursue professional wrestling. He trained under Boris Malenko, a respected figure in the business, learning the fundamentals of the sport. His first matches came in the late 1980s in the American Wrestling Association, where he debuted as The Trooper, a patriotic military-inspired character. This gimmick laid the groundwork for his later Patriot persona.[edit]

Wilkes adopted the Patriot gimmick in 1992 while wrestling for the Global Wrestling Federation. The character, complete with a mask and American flag tights, quickly caught on. He won the GWF North American Heavyweight Championship that same year, his first major singles title. From 1993 to 1995, he competed in All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he teamed with Stan Hansen and later Doug Furnas. Together with Furnas, he won the World Tag Team Championship, a significant achievement in one of the world's most respected promotions. After a brief WCW stint in 1996, Wilkes joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1997. There, he engaged in a high-profile feud with Bret Hart, challenging Hart for the WWF Championship. Their matches, including a memorable bout at Madison Square Garden, earned him widespread recognition. A severe shoulder injury in 1998 required surgery and effectively ended his in-ring career. He officially retired in 1999.[edit]

Wilkes' Patriot gimmick featured red, white, and blue tights, a full-face mask, and American flag imagery. His in-ring style was high-energy for a big man, combining power moves with surprising agility. Wrestling media portrayed him as a reliable mid-card talent who maximized his potential. The character resonated with fans during the 1990s patriotic wave in American wrestling. No official fandom name exists; his fan base consists primarily of wrestling historians and 1990s WWF enthusiasts. His social media presence was minimal and personal, focusing on Christian faith, family, and wrestling memories.[edit]

Del Wilkes never became a household name, but in the wrestling world, his legacy looms large. The iFANN Global Fame Engine has evaluated his career, and as of August 2026, he does not hold a placement in the published rankings, neither the Global Top 1,000 nor any Top-100 scope list. That absence, however, is not a measure of his impact. Among fans of 1990s wrestling, he is a cult figure, remembered for a gimmick that captured a moment in American culture.

His fanbase, though lacking a formal name, is passionate and engaged. They gather in online communities like Reddit's r/SquaredCircle, where Wilkes himself participated in an Ask Me Anything session in 2015, sharing stories and connecting with those who admired his work. That session remains a touchstone, a rare direct link to a performer who otherwise existed through the lens of his character.

Since his passing in 2021, fans have turned to memorial tributes, sharing memories and celebrating his journey from college football star to wrestling champion, and his later redemption arc. His openness about his struggles endeared him to many, making him a figure of resilience. While he may not rank on iFANN's lists, his story continues to resonate, a reflection of the enduring power of a well-told wrestling tale.[edit]

Del Wilkes' Patriot Missile finisher, a flying clothesline, was delivered with surprising speed for a man his size, a detail fans still marvel at. He was one of the few wrestlers to combine a mask with a patriotic gimmick, a choice that made him stand out in the 1990s. After retiring from wrestling, he drove a truck for several years, a humble profession that kept him grounded. He faced drug-related legal troubles in the 2000s and later spoke openly about those mistakes, using his story as a cautionary tale. A devout Christian, Wilkes credited his faith with helping him through difficult times.

His match against Bret Hart at Madison Square Garden in 1997 is often cited as his best, but the encounter at Canadian Stampede in Calgary that same year is legendary for a different reason. There, in front of a rabidly anti-American crowd, Wilkes entered as the ultimate patriot and was met with a chorus of boos and debris. The hostile atmosphere is still talked about as one of the most intense in wrestling history. Another story fans retell is the planned WWF Championship victory that never happened, Wilkes was reportedly slated to dethrone Hart, but the infamous Montreal Screwjob changed history. That 'what if' remains a favorite topic among wrestling historians.[edit]

Wilkes was married to Jan Wilkes for over 30 years. The couple had two children, a son named Dustin and a daughter named Jessica. His family remained a central part of his life after wrestling. Wilkes spoke publicly about his Christian faith and how it shaped his family values. He lived in South Carolina after retirement. No information about pets or extended family is documented.[edit]

Wilkes' most notable feud was with Bret Hart in the WWF during 1997. He teamed with Stan Hansen and Doug Furnas in All Japan Pro Wrestling. His trainer was Boris Malenko. He was a close friend of Stone Cold Steve Austin, who spoke highly of him after his death. Jim Ross called many of his matches.[edit]

Wilkes' romantic history centered on one long-term relationship. He married Jan Wilkes, and they remained together for over 30 years until his death. The couple had two children, Dustin and Jessica. No other public romantic relationships, engagements, or high-profile flings have been documented by credible outlets. As of 2026, Wilkes is deceased and was married to Jan Wilkes at the time of his death on June 30, 2021. No information suggests any separation or divorce.[edit]

In October 2022, the University of South Carolina honored Del Wilkes with a posthumous induction into its Sports Hall of Fame, recognizing his journey from an All-American offensive lineman to a professional wrestler who sought redemption. This tribute arrived more than a year after the former 'Patriot' passed away in Columbia, South Carolina, on June 30, 2021. He was 59 years old when he suffered a sudden heart attack at his home, a event confirmed by family representatives and WWE officials rather than through a public coroner's report. Reports indicated that Wilkes had been battling painkiller addiction stemming from injuries sustained during his college football career prior to his death. The wrestling community reacted with immediate tributes, as WWE issued an official statement expressing sadness over the loss of the mid-card talent best remembered for his 1997 feud with Bret Hart.

Fellow wrestlers and local media outlets in South Carolina, including the Post and Courier, honored him as a Gamecock legend while fans shared memories of his time in Japan, WCW, and WWF on social media platforms. Details regarding the specific time, location, or nature of the funeral service were never made public in available records. Bruce Prichard later revealed that Wilkes' history of undisclosed injuries upon joining the WWF served as a catalyst for the company implementing stricter pre-screening protocols for future wrestlers.[edit]

iFANN currently estimates Del Wilkes' net worth at the time of his death in 2021 at $150,000. His income came primarily from wrestling contracts, though his WWF salary was modest, reflecting his status as a mid-card talent with a run of about one year. Earlier in his career, he earned less in the AWA, GWF, and AJPW. After retiring in 1999, he worked as a truck driver, which provided a steady but modest income. He had no significant business ventures, endorsement deals, or real estate holdings documented publicly. His estate likely earns minimal royalties from WWE video games and DVD releases featuring The Patriot character, though WWE owns the intellectual property rights to the gimmick. As of 2026, no public information details the exact estate value or who manages it.[edit]

Wilkes won two major championships during his career: the GWF North American Heavyweight Championship in 1992 and the AJPW World Tag Team Championship in 1994. He also held the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship. He did not win any major industry awards such as WWE Hall of Fame induction or Pro Wrestling Illustrated year-end awards.[edit]