"Virgil, Getting Ready To Perhaps Become The Next WWF Champion": Virgil's First And Only Title Shot

Reader Nav (who sent in the Canadian customs story in this Virgilbag) has found something remarkable in the dustbin of wrestling history. Back on the Nov. 21, 1992, edition of WWF Superstars, everyone's favorite lonely wrestler got a shot at immortality. Nav explains:

He fought Bret "Hitman" Hart after Bret won the title off Ric Flair in 1992. They didn't know what to do with Bret, sticking him in a match at Survivor Series with pre-asshole Shawn Michaels. So they tried to portray Bret as a workman's champ - putting him in various matches with enhancement talents (read: jobbers). I guess they were running out of jobbers, so Virgil got his chance at a title shot.

It was, as far as we can tell, Virgil's only chance at a major wrestling title. (In 1987, he briefly held the regional AWA International Heavyweight Championship as Soul Train Jones, defeating Big Bubba, would would later wrestle in the WWF as Earthquake Tugboat/Typhoon, and in WCW as the Shockmaster.)

For the record, Virgil's moveset:

• Rear takedown • Side headlock takedown • Side headlock • Crossbody block • Side headlock takedown • Shoulder charge • Monkey flip • (Missed) diving crossbody

Best commentator exchange:

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan: "Who says he's going to get by Virgil here?" Vince McMahon: "No one is saying that."

Maybe it's nostalgia, but I really, really enjoyed this match. Hart and Virgil, two professionals, were able to put on a three-and-a-half-minute match that, even with the outcome never in doubt, gave both men chances to shine and sell. No rest holds, and if there wasn't any drama, the severely overmatched Virgil left the ring with a lot more respect than he brought in. The prematch handshake and postmatch hug are part of that, but chalk it up mostly to Hart's ability—and willingness— to make anyone look good.

And Virgil? Before he was the forlorn figure haunting the periphery of card shows, he was an honest-to-god serviceable wrestler.

(Note: this video is taken from the amazing WWF Classic Rewinds YouTube channel, and edited to remove the non-Virgil footage.)