The Patriot

[Dylan Waco]

Discuss Here

[Dylan Waco]

From BuryWindham via The Nomination Thread:

 

"The Patriot (Del Wilkes) version is a curious talent. Does he belong in the same breathe as Misawa, Funk, Lawler, Tenryu? Probably not but is he one of the greatest workers ever? Perhaps to an extent.

The value of Wilkes as a great worker is similar to that of Tommy Rogers an excellent tag team specialist that when given shots at singles matches put on fun, never boring and solid ring work.

For Patriots best work his work with Kobashi in the 96 tag league, was his best stuff. For tag matches his match where he and Kobashi faced Akiyama and Misawa is probably his best match and a high recommendation for me. I'd be willing to call it the second best match of a memorable tournament full of great matches.

For singles work, the Bret Hart feud was something of a bright spot in a time where the WWE had next to none. He was over, the capture the flag match was also great fun.

I'll nominate him based purely of being on the all time great tag specialists, his memorable gimmick which I personaly feel was always over and being an all around good singles talent. "

[Mad Dog]

I thought he was consistently one of the best parts about the dying days of the AWA as The Trooper. I thought him trying out different partners to try and win the tag titles was fun on a weekly basis while it lasted. I remember there being a match against Larry Zbyszko around that time period that I also really liked.

[BuryWindham]

I never caught his AWA stuff but I think adds to my initial point of him being one of those great tag specialists that's could go as a singles talent as well.

 

My thoughts his single work also would have to include the dark patriot feud from GWF as pretty entertaining.

 

While skimming through some of the short matches on YouTube and this could be due to years of watching completely awful punches being thrown, Del throws some real mean looking punches. They stood out.

 

For WCW I loved his team with Marcus Bagwell don't care what anyone says The Patriots were major fun. This is the type of work I appreciate.

[Dylan Waco]

I've always had a soft spot for him because he's a South Carolina guy. I actually think the gimmick hurts him some because it's so sterile that nothing he did really stands out. In real time I always remember thinking he was a solid hand, but never had anything spectacular on this resume. That said, he's exactly the sort of guy where I would be open to reexploring him. If anyone has a handful of AJPW recs for example, I'll see if I can't track them down.

[PeteF3]

If anyone has a handful of AJPW recs for example, I'll see if I can't track them down.

 

Patriot finally seemed to be putting it together leading up to and in the 1996 RWTL teaming with Kobashi:

 

- vs. Williams/Ace (10/12)

- vs. Albright/Sabu (11/21)

- vs. Misawa/Akiyama (11/22)

 

That last match is one that I like more than seemingly everyone else who reviewed it and is the best I've seen Patriot look in AJPW. I can't fathom voting for him but almost every time I watch him--from Global, to Stars & Stripes, to AJPW--I'm taken aback by how solid he is.

[Mad Dog]

I've always had a soft spot for him because he's a South Carolina guy. I actually think the gimmick hurts him some because it's so sterile that nothing he did really stands out. In real time I always remember thinking he was a solid hand, but never had anything spectacular on this resume. That said, he's exactly the sort of guy where I would be open to reexploring him. If anyone has a handful of AJPW recs for example, I'll see if I can't track them down.

What did you think of the Trooper vs. The Patriot as far as gimmicks go?

[Ma Stump Puller]

Do I get him being here? Yes. Do I agree? Not really. I've watched a fair chunk of his stint in AJPW and while he most definitely has bright spots, he's not really got those "holy shit this dude is great" moments I got from Albright or Ace in their big matches. He's a reliable hand and certainly has had great matches (with great hands and one of the hottest babyfaces around in that era alongside him, mind you) but he's the weakest part of GET and doesn't really stand out in weekly TV showings, even in full matches where he's fighting tip top talent at the time and getting prime spots to show off. He has a pretty solid hot tag and knows how to play to the crowd incredibly well at the apron, nipping at the heels and getting all amped up whenever Kobashi starts to fight back: his offence in turn is also quite explosive at times and he's pretty reliable all in all, doesn't really botch or muck up anything. Ace by comparison has the same dynamic and has the benefit of numerous big tag matches with multiple different members: Patriot has GET and a super unremarkable run with George Hines as The Eagle in which they lost a lot. 

Maybe there's something I'm missing but from what I have watched, he's a good tag specialist but really nothing special in the wrong run unless surrounded by far bigger stars. It would take a lot for him to have a slot on the top 100.