On May 4th, Julie and I are going to the Chiller Theater Convention in New Jersey. It is a science fiction/horror convention where you can meet some really cool celebrities. For example, this year, the guest list includes Jason Mewes, or “Jay” from Dogma and Clerks, Katey Sagal from Married With Children and Futurama, and Robert Picardo, or “The Doctor” from Star Trek: Voyager…

…and “wrestling superstar” Mike Jones, also known as “Virgil” – who is the quintessential subject of this column.

As host of Ring Fever, I have interviewed many wrestlers – from the greenhorn “jobber” – or guy who is paid to lose every match he is in – to the WWE Champion. Rather than list some of the famous names who have stood next to me and talked into my microphone, I invite you to go to my “Paul And Wrestlers” page – where you will see for yourself the gamut of superstars that have granted me interviews – FREE interviews…

…keep that in mind – for that is important later.

In no way do I consider myself a celebrity. But, in fact, I have been asked by both wrestling and South Park fans to take pictures with them – and even asked for my autograph by fans of Ring Fever. Despite that – I still do not think I am famous – or bare no Ego about my past “fame.” As a matter of fact, whether it was the first or three hundredth time a fan asked for my autograph – I always reacted as if it was the first time – because each time someone did – I was both humbled and honored…

…but not everyone is like me.

One night many years ago, I was at a wrestling show and, as I always do, I went into the locker room to interview “the boys in the back.” I do not remember exactly how many wrestlers there were back there – but I interviewed every one of them – except one. That night, I interviewed names like Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, Tony Atlas, Don Muraco – and Tito Santana. After being so excited about interviewing these superstars I grew up watching, I saw former WW“F” “superstar” Virgil in the dressing room. Eager to interview him, I approached him and gave him my usual speech I give to every wrestler about who I am, what the show is about – and why I wanted to interview them. Almost immediately after my last word came out of my mouth – Virgil rubbed his thumb against his index and middle finger– which is the universal sign for money.

Shocked and bewildered, I explained to him that our show is all about the fans – and that close to one hundred other wrestlers – some a lot more famous then him – granted us interviews for free. “I don’t care,” he said. “Time is money.” Truthfully, the only thing that could come out of my mouth that was not going to get me killed was, “Are you serious?” He, very confidently, said, “Yes.” – and simply walked away.

After the five or so minutes that I stood there completely flabbergasted, I finally got my bearings – and realized – that Virgil has as just as much respect for this business as The Ultimate Warrior.

To clarify, in the 1990s, there was a wrestler named The Ultimate Warrior. He started off as a “jobber” – and then got so incredibly popular and famous – that the one and only Hulk Hogan let Warrior pin him at Wrestlemania VI for the then WWF Championship and literally “passed the torch” to Warrior – solidifying his immortality in this business. The problem with Warrior (which, by the way, he legally changed his real name to) was that he saw the wrestling business as a way to make money – having no respect or care about its past – or those who both came before him and paved the way for his success…

….Virgil is no different.

When I checked the Chiller Theater Convention website tonight, to check if anyone else was added to the roster of celebrities – I saw his picture – and immediately told Julie of the despise and disrespect I have for him – as well as my experience I mentioned earlier. I told her that when we are there, not to approach him, smile at him – or even look at him – because he does not deserve it. Then, all my memories of Virgil flooded my brain. I recalled a half dozen other times I did interviews at wrestling shows that he was a part of. Each time he saw me, he would make the same hand gesture – despite the fact that, after our first encounter, I never approached him for an interview again.

Sitting at my computer tonight, I googled him – and pleasantly discovered that I am not the only one that he has disrespected or that despises him.

Searching the web, I came across a guy named Adam Firestorm, who apparently is somehow involved in the wrestling business as well. On his website, he wrote this:

“Now, I have had a chance to meet, work with, or wrestle guys like Rick Martel, The Bushwhackers, Dan Severn, Tito Santana, Greg Valentine, The Tonga Kid, Matt Borne (Doink), Jimmy Snuka, Sting, Ted DiBiase, Nikita Koloff, J.B.L., and a million other much more famous, talented individuals than Virgil. Yet Virgil had an obnoxious ego that far surpassed any of those listed above, who truth be told, were all fantastic to be around.
I first met Virgil in 1994…at the time, Virgil was fresh out of the WWF, and was probably about as marketable as he ever would be on the indies [independent wrestling circuit]. Imagine the surprise of many fans, used to getting autographs from all the big stars that had passed through Cloverdale, BC, when they were told it would cost them $10 to get Virgil to scribble his stage name on a piece of paper for them. One fan brought a Virgil action figure, and was told it would be at least $12 to get it signed. Want an 8×10 picture? $10. Signed? $15. Want a Polaroid picture with the Million Dollar Man’s former servant? $20. Ridiculous! Many fans went away empty handed and disappointed. To compare, John Tenta, hometown boy and fresh out of the biggest WWF run of his career signed anything you wanted for free. Polaroids? $5. Same for an 8×10.
I remember hearing years later that Virgil was asking $800 to work indy shows. Why $800 when years previous it was $500? ‘I’m nWo now! I’m Vincent! $800!’”

Feeling ecstatic that my view of him was correct and not just felt by me, I continued my search – and found a picture of Virgil sitting at a table at some convention with a banner behind him that read, “Virgil: Wrestling Superstar.” At his table – was absolutely no one – not a soul. Underneath the photo, there were several comments, like this anonymous one:

“I met him this past day and he is so full of himself...I have had the opportunity to speak with him on a one on one basis because I have been helping out another famous celebrity during the Wizard Convention.
He charges so much money for everything....he says he does NOTHING for free....because he is known NATION and WORLDWIDE!!
He is so famous that every time I pass by his booth...NO ONE IS THERE TO SEE HIM!”

To use one of my favorite expressions – and there it is.

The slogan of my show is, “Where The Fans Are The Stars.” The reason that is our slogan is because it is true. I was the host of Ring Fever and I was popular with the fans because they made me popular. What would have happened if one day, I walked into a wrestling show and got the usual cheers that I did – and treated every fan who approached me like a pee-on? Obviously, there would no longer be a Ring Fever – because any fan I approached for an interview would walk away in disgust. Furthermore, any wrestler I asked for an interview would consider me a “mark” – which is wrestling lingo for someone who thinks they are a superstar in the wrestling business, when, in reality – they are nothing.

Take it from me, in the wrestling business, the most important thing for anyone in it to maintain is not their “gimmick” – not even “kayfabe” (or storyline) – but their reputation and respect for the business. If you are in the wrestling business at any level or in any shape or form, you have been given a privilege that millions of others would chop off their own leg for. Every time I entered a ring, did ring announcing, commentary, interviews, walked into a dressing room – or held a World Heavyweight Championship belt because the champion himself handed it to me personally – I thanked God for the honor of Him granting me that opportunity – even if it never came again.

In a way, I should feel sad for Virgil, because his reputation and lack of respect for the business is growing – but truthfully – I can’t wait to see him sitting at the Chiller Theater convention… …behind an empty table – but I don’t, because in my opinion – he is just a “mark.”

And Virgil, since I just wrote a column about you and posted it on my site and my myspace page – I expect payment in no less than 30 days.