With Independence Day being celebrated nationwide here in the United States, it brings to mind some of the patriotic personalities who have donned the red, white and blue through the years in the WWE. Several Superstars have represented the stars and stripes of this great nation over the years in WWE, but only a few are remembered for being great patriots in the squared circle.
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As part of the ongoing Fourth of July celebration here in America, Sports World News will take a look back at five of the most patriotic Superstars in WWE history.
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Honorable Mentions: "The All American American" Jack Swagger and Sgt. Slaughter (Iraqi heel turn cost him).
5) The Patriot Del Wilkes:
Wilkes had just a brief run in the WWE as The Patriot in 1997, but he made his debut in the company as an American patriot who was willing to do anything for the good of his country. The Patriot, adorned in a red white and blue mask and equipped with the American flag, had some memorable clashes with Bret Hart and his Canadian stable The Hart Foundation in mid-1997. The Patriot even had a WWE Championship shot against him at In Your House: Ground Zero. A triceps injury derailed The Patriot's career almost as quickly as fireworks ignite on the Fourth of July, but he still makes the list of one of the most patriotic Superstars of all time – after all, his name was The Patriot.
4) Hacksaw Jim Duggan:
HOOOOOOO! When compiling a list of patriotic WWE Superstars, Hacksaw Jim Duggan has to be in the Top 5 of all time. Anywhere Duggan went, he carried his precious 2x4 and Old Glory while the crowds at every arena peppered him with "USA" chants. Duggan was as patriotic as they come and always cut promos about defending the honor of his country in the squared circle. Duggan even attempted to start an unsuccessful "USA" chant when the WWE visited Toronto for WrestleMania VI. While Duggan's overall win-loss record won’t impress anyone and he never held a title in the WWE, this patriotic WWE Hall of Famer and first-ever Royal Rumble winner never went down without a fight.
3) Lex Luger:
Luger emerged in the WWE in late 1992 under a heel character nicknamed "The Narcissist," but after Hulk Hogan left the company in mid-1993 and a void for a new American hero was created, Vince McMahon opted to turn Luger face. Luger's face turn hit its apex exactly 21 years ago today when he flew in via helicopter on July 4, 1993 and did what other Superstars failed to do -- slammed the monstrous Yokozuna on the USS Intrepid. Luger was transformed into a character that was "Made in the U.S.A." and became "The All-American," even receiving a WWE Championship shot against Yokozuna at the 1993 SummerSlam. Luger would get several opportunities but could never quite win the gold, and the American-made hero eventually jumped ship to WCW in 1995.
2) Kurt Angle:
Through his three I's of Intensity, Integrity and Intelligence, our American Olympic Hero Kurt Angle burst onto the WWE scene in 1999 and slowly learned how to transfer his Olympic wrestling skills into the sports entertainment style. Angle would later become one of the best Superstars on the microphone and switched from heel to face seamlessly several times throughout his career while dazzling the crowds with his in-ring style and becoming one of the best Superstars on the WWE roster. Angle wore different variations of red, white and blue singlets and reminded everyone of how he won an Olympic gold medal "with a broken freakin' neck." Angle went on to win the WWE Championship four times in his career before moving over to TNA and winning their World Title five times. Angle may not be in his prime anymore, but our Olympic Hero is one of the best patriots to ever set foot in a wrestling ring.
1) Hulk Hogan:
Hulk Hogan is the definition of an American patriot and if you don't believe us, just listen to his entrance music entitled "Real American." Hogan put the WWE on the map in 1983 when he defeated the Iron Sheik for the WWE Championship and spun the wrestling world into a state of "Hulkamania." The increasing popularity of wrestling -- due in large part to Hogan -- led to the first ever WrestleMania in 1985. 30 years later, WrestleMania is the single biggest annual wrestling event thanks in large part to the "Real American" Hulk Hogan. Hogan put sports entertainment and the WWE on the map and is a big reason why wrestling reached the heights in popularity that it has since he won the belt in 1983 and he stands as a main reason why professional wrestling is still big today. Hogan, a six-time WWE and WCW Heavyweight Champion, is the No.1 patriot that the wrestling world has ever seen.
So as you take in the fireworks and barbeques that come with the Fourth of July holiday, we here at Sports World News hope you enjoyed this look back at great American patriots in wrestling history.
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