MEWL News > News
Virus' career in jeopardy!
May 20, 2006
By Eric J. Layton
The young man in front of me had faced lots of things normal people would fear without showing even a hint of concern. He had dived over the rope of a wrestling ring dozens of times, never once hesitating. Time and time again he had stood on the top turnbuckle, looked out over a sea of faces, metal folding chairs, and concrete, and flung himself at his opponents without regard for his own well-being. Yet here he was, lying in a hospital bed, staring at the ceiling, quiet and unsure of himself.
He was scared.
There is no other way to put it. This young man, who constantly laughed in the face of danger, was now frightened.
That was the first thing I noticed about Virus as I entered his hospital room. It was the first time I had ever seen him like that. It was only after that realization sunk in that I noticed there was something else I was seeing for the first time: Virus without his mask.
I don’t know what I expected when I got the assignment from MEWL’s front office: head on over to Akron General where Virus is awaiting surgery and get a story for the website.
No, I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this. Virus scared? That’s like seeing Bounce wearing sweatpants or Durty the Clown brushing his teeth – or should I say tooth? – you never think you’ll live to see it. But there it was. Virus was scared.
“It’s a routine operation,” he told me, unable to take his eyes off the ceiling. “A simple shoulder surgery. They say I’ll be able to go right back into a normal life. But there is nothing normal about a wrestler’s life! OK, I’ll have full use of my arm for normal stuff, but will I have enough strength in it to put on a side headlock? Or to handle being in an armbar without tapping out automatically? Will I be able to wrestle again?”
He shook his head and then finally turned to look me in the eyes.
“They don’t know. They can’t promise that. They say I could bounce right back to 100% or this could be a career-ender, and we won’t know until I go under the knife.”
Now he looked away once again, as though ashamed to admit what he said next.
“I can face a lot of things, but never wrestling again? Wrestling is my life. It’s who I am. Win, lose, I don’t care. I just love the crowds, the pop, the competition. I’m a wrestler. If I can’t wrestle, then what am I?
“Never wrestling again? Now that scares me.”
The MEWL Championship Committee has reluctantly cancelled Virus’ upcoming rematch with Sharkboy for the Cruiserweight Title he once held, and announced the shot will go instead to Unknown.
But that doesn’t bother Virus. Losing a title? He can handle that. Never wrestling again?
