Virgil is the biggest douche bag I've ever head the displeasure of dealing with.I first met him at a sports memorabilia dealer's show back in 2000 or 2001.Lots of ex-football and baseball players were there signing autographs.Chyna was advertised to be there on the day I went and Virgil was there all 3 days.No one was at his table of course.
I was there shooting for my TV show "Reality Check TV".My main goal was to interview Joanie "Chyna" Lauer(who recently left WWE) but I wanted to get Virgil as well.I figured he'd be easy and more accessible to get an interview with.
So when we got there Virgil was just hanging out at this table by himself.I went up and introduced myself and immediately he signed a picture to me with out asking if I wanted one first.He began demanding $15 as he all ready signed it to me.He kept hustling me to fork over the cash.So I did.Basically if I'm going to ask the guy for an interview I guess it's only fair I at least buy one of his pics.I didn't want to though.
So I explain to him I'm with a TV show and would like to do an interview with him.He told me to come back later he was busy now.Busy doing what?I wondered.Anyways my priority was Chyna she showed up for her signing but was in the designated ticket buyers area with the big league athletes.
So an organizer for the event was trying to get Chyna for me but she had to get the ticket buyers first plus she was only there for a limited amount of time.Turned out she had a plane to catch and she just couldn't work it in.
So I came back over to Virgil and asked if he had time now.The first thing he asks is "How much am I getting for this?" and I'm all "Excuse me?" Then he says "Hey man if you want to interview me I gotta get paid!You think Hulk Hogan or Chyna would just give you an interview for free man?" I went on to say how I've interviewed DDP,The Road Warriors,Booker T.,Jimmy Hart and he cuts me off going "But that's them man!You want to talk to me I gotta get paid!"
I was floored and I totally wanted to cuss him out!I was totally insulted a career mid card jobber who made a name for himself riding other people's coat tails had the gall to think he's such a big star he has to get paid for an interview!I stood there dumb founded as he patted me on the belly and walked away laughing.
To this day I wished I chewed him out and told him what a joke he was to have the nerve to act like that.The only reason I didn't was because I was put in a position where I had to conduct myself in a most professional manner.My good friend Dr.Mike Lano a respected journalist in the wrestling industry pulled strings with the organizers of the event and really put me over to them to get me in.He wasn't able to go so he wanted me to get some stuff for him to use in his column.
The woman who was one of the head event organizers bent over back wards for me,treated me like royalty and tried really hard to get Chyna for us.So if I made a scene,it could have been bad for me and my show's reputation.
But ever since then I've been wanting to get back at that S.O.B. and tell him nobody gives a damn about him and his career was a joke!I've even seen him a couple of times at other autograph events over the last few years.Most recently the disasterous Fan Fest in San Francisco which you can view a preview of here
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq8CXdrL43EI just ignore him.I could have easily walked up and talked trash to his face and as bad as I want to,why bother?Is it really worth it?Would he even remember me?That first time was the moment to do that but I kept my cool.
If I ever do get the oppurtunity(I will see him again) I will do it but only if I get stuck in a predicament where I'd have to talk to him.Since then I've interviewed more wrestlers still way more famous than he ever was or will be including Chyna.So Screw that never was has been!