7 WWE Angles That Felt Plucked From A Different Time

7. The Patriot Stands Up For America in 1997

Del Wilkes made a career for himself as the masked Patriot character in Japan during the 1990s. By 1997, Wilkes decided to jump ship to the WWF, and on the surface, he came in at a perfect time. Bret Hart had recently turned heel, and he along with the reformed Hart foundation became an anti-American faction, regularly dressing down the USA while singing Canada’s praises. A superhero who literally wears the American flag on his head seemed like a natural foe.

The problem was that this was 1997, and WWE was well on its way toward the Attitude Era. By this point, white meat babyfaces had become passé, and while the American crowds didn’t take kindly to Bret knocking their country, they weren’t in the mood to get behind a Howdy Doody “Ain’t America Great” face character either.

They were more inclined to cheer for Steve Austin, a beer-swilling, foul-mouthed anarchist redneck, who more reflected America’s values at the time. Ultimately, Wilkes worked a forgettable program with Hart that had no heat, before injuries ended his career permanently.