From his early days as a youth in North Carolina, Erik "Virus" Richards was regarded as a very devious individual. He was always a kid who liked to cause trouble just because he could, and he always had a fall back plan in case something went awry with even his earliest childhood pranks. The most notorious of his schemes took place at the high school he attended in his hometown of Durham, where controversial photos made public by Richards led to the termination of four faculty members. Richards was expelled for attempted blackmail, and would not be admitted into another school in the county as a result of his actions. With education no longer a time consuming activity, Richards went into "business" for himself, and in a state where college athletics has a huge following he opened small bookmaking operation. After a trio of high profile college athletes became involved with Richards he was able to extort funds from them for their silence, which set him up financially at a very early age. Before the age of 20 Richards had more than a million dollars in the bank. He entered professional wrestling on a wager, betting an associate $50, 000 that he could last two weeks at a well known wrestling academy in northern Georgia. Richards not only lasted, but quickly became the top student at the school, and a rumor quickly started to circulate about what happened to the man who had placed the bet, as he reportedly didn't have the money to pay up. His first and only wrestling contract was with the Midwestern Mayhem Promotion, where he still competes today as a former world, tag team, extreme, and TV champion, holding the distinction of being the first man to win fifty matches in his career.
MMP Career History
Virus Richards was one of the original wrestlers in the MMP, and made his debut in the "old company" in April 1998. He became the company's first TV champion that night in a battle royal, and was quickly brought in by Diamond King as one of the original members of GX. As TV champion Richards faced a variety of challengers, and as he did so he racked up an undefeated streak that would last for the first four months of his career. Claiming that he was ready for bigger and better things, Richards allowed his TV title to be used as a means for GX to test the worth of one of their other members, Carl Donovan, who's lengthy slump earned him the disdain of his stablemates. Donovan was given the task of defending the belt for Virus against Lenny Shaw on an SNS card in August 1998, but he lost the title that night and left the group shortly thereafter. The undefeated streak came to an end at the Apocalypse in Arizona PPV in August '98 in a world title match where Virus challenged then-champion Aries in the show's main event. That match was a sort of turning point for Richards, who then lost to The Ryno in his attempt to capture the universal title. By the fall of '98 Richards was competing only sparingly, and he had fallen completely out of title contention. He formed a brief tag team with Dr. No Limit, though the alliance fell apart by the end of 1998. On the last card of '98 Virus was soundly defeated by Gemini Killer in a no disqualification match, and as a result took several weeks away from the MMP to re-evaluate his career. GX was disbanded in the meantime, and when Richards made his return it was as a mystery partner for "Corrupt" John Korso, establishing the foundation for The Syndicate, the most dominant stable of 1999. As time passed The Bootlegger, The Regulator, "Stunning" Steve Simon, and Scott Worth (Inferno) all came to join the group, which first displayed it's dominance at Homicidal Tendencies 1999 when Virus, with Korso as the special referee, defeated Captain Patrick O'Conner in a shipwreck match. It was at this point that Bootlegger and Regulator revealed their allegiances and The Syndicate was born. While The Syndicate's primary focus throughout the summer of 1999 was a lengthy feud with O'Conner's The Untouchables, Virus surprised many by teaming with The Joker's Child to capture the MMP tag team championship from Lone Gunz in July. The duo held the belts for many months. After Virus and Bootlegger were defeated by O'Conner and Ryno in a dangerous game match headlining the Apocalypse PPV in August, cracks began to appear in The Syndicate. Individual members began breaking off, leaving Virus with Joker, his tag team partner, as his only true ally. That alliance then began to fall apart as both men claimed to be the driving force behind the team. The two would feud over control of the championship until Virus signed to defend the belts in a four way singles ladder match against Aries, newcomer Malice, and Dr. No Limit. Little did anyone realize Virus was in cahoots with Aries and Malice and he used this fact to claim the championship once more. The match stipulation said that whoever got the belts would be free to choose any partner to share them and Virus chose himself, making him the first man to hold the MMP tag titles as an individual. The titles were stripped in December '99 after a controversial match between Virus and Joker. The stipulation this time was that whoever won the match, by whatever means, would leave as the sole champion. The match ended in a double disqualification, and the belts were held up. At Season's Slayings '99 Virus was intrical in the formation of The Cartel, a variation on the old Syndicate, consisting of himself, Bootlegger, Aries, Simon, and Inferno. The group wouldn't last long, though, as Aries turned on the group in early 2000 to allign himself with Joker and Simon left the MMP soon after. For the first time in almost a year and a half Virus began pursuing singles chmpionships again, defeating Psychotic Sam for the MMP extreme title and then upsetting Daark for the world title in February. Virus lost the world title to Bootlegger in controversial style at the March Mayhem PPV. After it appeared as though Bootlegger would lay down and allow Virus to retain the belt, Bootlegger changed his mind and instead fought the match, winning by pinfall to become champion. Richards would exact a measure of revenge the next month at Homicidal Tendencies in another dangerous game match. This time teaming with Joker (with whom he had reformed an alliance a month earlier) he faced Bootlegger and Inferno, with Bootlegger's world title and Virus' extreme title both at stake. Bootlegger turned on Inferno just moments before Virus turned on Joker, signalling the formation of Syndicate 2000 by Bootlegger and Virus. The alliance lasted only minutes as Virus then turned and attacked Bootlegger, leaving the island alone in triumph. Looking for new henchemen to do his bidding, Virus targetted two of the weakest minds in the MMP...Psychotic Sam and Harbinger. While claiming to want to help Harbinger seek a better life, Virus joined forces with Sam, exploiting Sam's belief that he was the King of Spain to use Sam as an instrument to help Virus rid the MMP of Bootlegger. They finally did just that at WrestleFest 2000 as Sam defeated Bootlegger for the world title, giving Richards a world title match on day two of the event. Virus came up short that night, however, losing to Sam by pinfall after suffering an apparent ankle injury in a match that Virus had relinquished the extreme championship to secure. Shortly thereafter Harbinger finally accepted Virus' offer and turned against the Cult to join Richards. As expected, however, Virus treated Harbinger as an inferior rather than an equal. The summer was unsuccessful for Virus, culminating in a series of losses against newcomer Glycerine and the eventual revelation that Harbinger was working undercover for The Cult Master the whole time. This led to a match between Virus and the world champion Cult Master at Final Judgment, where he captured his second world title with a win in the house of the dead match. After what was supposed to be the last MMP match ever, Virus issued an open challenge to anyone to come and face him in a regular wrestling match for the title, a challenge that was accepted by Diamond King, Virus' former GX ally, who won the match in record time to capture the title, making Virus' second world title reign the shortest in MMP history.
Match Summary
Running total of overall record in parenthesis
1998
*Chaos on the Coast: Defeated Prof. Smiley by submission. (1-0)
*June 6: Defeated Xenith Xavier by submission. (2-0)
*Championship Fever: Participated in triple threat match against Remy LeBeau and Orion. (2-0)
*June 20: Defeated Brick Stevens by submission. (3-0)
*July 4: Pinned Lenny Shaw. (4-0)
*July 18: Pinned Diablo. (5-0)
*BattleGround: With Lord Deimos, Gargantuan & Genesis defeated The Congregation & Hell's Fury in an elimination match; pinned The Rock n' Roll Pumpkin. (7-0)
*Apocalypse in Arizona: Pinned by Aries. (7-1)
*September 12: Pinned by The Ryno. (7-2)
*September 19: Participated in triple threat Chicagoland massacre match against "Massacre" Mark Allyn and Mr. Universe. (7-2)
*September 26: With Jamaal, pinned The Odd Couple. (8-2)
*Suicidal September: Defeated Pot Head by submission in a falls count anywhere match. (9-2)
*October 31: Defeated Dr. No Limit. (10-2)
*November 14: With Diamond King & Jamaal pinned Psychotic Sam, The Saint & Dr. No Limit. (11-2)
*December 5: Went to a no contest with Christian Antamarius. (11-2)
*December 12: With Dr. No Limit, participated in tag team rumble. (11-2)
*Season's Slayings: With Gemini Killer, defeated Christian Antamarius & Gralen, Wolverine & Misery, and Gabriel Knight & Bobby Stone in a four corners match; pinned by Gemini Killer in a no disqualification match. (12-3)
1999
*February 13: With "Corrupt" John Korso, pinned The Michigan Outlaws. (13-3)
*February 27: With "Corrupt" John Korso, defeated The Michigan Outlaws and Parental Advisory in a triple threat match (pinned Parental Advisory). (14-3)
*March 13: Went to a no contest with The Bootlegger in an inferno match. (14-3)
*March Mayhem: Defeated The Joker's Child by countout; defeated Perry Sanders by submission; defeated John Korso by submission; pinned by John Korso; pinned by Clay Moore for the vacant television championship (The Regulator was the special referee). (17-5)
*April 3: With The Bootlegger, pinned Clay Moore & "Violent" Bob Flanagan. (18- 5)
*April 10: With The Bootlegger, defeated West Law & Damien Jentz by countout. (19- 5)
*April 17: Served as guest referee of The Bootlegger vs. West Law; pinned Gemini Killer in a falls count anywhere match. (20-5)
*April 24: With The Bootlegger, pinned by The Ryno & Captain Patrick O'Conner. (20- 6)
*Homicidal Tendencies: Defeated Captain Patrick O'Conner in a shipwreck match (John Korso was the special referee). (21-6)
*WrestleFest: The Parade of Champions: Pinned by The Bootlegger (May 30); participated in survivor's cup rumble (May 31). (21-7)
*June 5: With "Stunning" Steve Simon, defeated No Remorse by submission. (22-7)
*June 12: Went to a no contest with Ouija Lullabye in a respect match. (22-7)
*June 19: Pinned Wolverine. (23-7)
*Chaos on the Coast: Pinned Dr. No Limit in a "man in the box" match. (24-7)
*July 3: Participated in battle royal. (24-7)
*July 10: With The Joker's Child, pinned Lone Gunz for the tag team championship ("Massacre" Mark Allyn was the special referee). (25-7)
*July 24: With The Joker's Child, Ponch & Michael pinned The Upstarts, Big Buddy & Billy Joseph. (26-7)
*BattleGround 2: With The Joker's Child, defeated The Upstarts by disqualification; with The Bootlegger, "Stunning" Steve Simon & The Regulator defeated Captain Patrick O'Conner, The Ryno, Dr. No Limit & George Achica in an elimination match. (28-7)
*August 7: With The Joker's Child, pinned Daark in a handicap match. (29-7)
*August 21: With The Joker's Child, defeated Captain Patrick O'Conner & Hyoga by submission. (30-7)
*Apocalypse: With The Bootlegger, pinned by Captain Patrick O'Conner & The Ryno in a dangerous game match. (30-8)
*August 28: Served as guest referee of "Stunning" Steve Simon vs. The Joker's Child. (30-8)
*September 4: With The Joker's Child, pinned Super Cupid & Ouija Lullabye. (31-8)
*September 18: With The Joker's Child, pinned The Deadly Syns. (32-8)
*September 25: With The Joker's Child, defeated Super Cupid & "Corrupt" John Korso (Ray Brewer was the special referee). (33-8)
*Vindication: With Dr. No Limit, pinned by Captain Patrick O'Conner & George Achica in hell in a cell - 1st tier genocidal warfare match. (33-9)
*October 9: With The Joker's Child, pinned No Remorse. (34-9)
*October 23: Defeated The Ryno by forfeit. (35-9)
*Moonlight: With The Joker's Child, defeated The Ryno & Masochrist by submission. (36-9)
*October 30: With Ryan, pinned Intoxicated. (37-9)
*November 13: Defeated Aries, Dr. No Limit, and Malice in a four way ladder match for the tag team championship (selected himself as co-holder of the titles). (38-9)
*Best of the Best: Pinned The New Muff Divers in a handicap match. (39-9)
*November 27: With Aries, pinned Dr. No Limit & George Achica. (40-9)
*December 11: Defeated The Joker's Child by disqualification. (41-9)
*December 18: Went do a double disqualification with The Joker's Child (tag team championships held up as a result of prematch stipulation). (41-9)
*Season's Slayings: Pinned George Achica; with Aries pinned by Dr. No Limit & George Achica. (42-10)
2000
*January 8: With Inferno, pinned The Order. (43-10)
*January 15: With Aries & Inferno, defeated in four way match against The Cult Master, Harbinger & The Destroyer, Hot Crimson & The Order, and Masked Menace X, Wolverine & Carnage (Virus pinned by Destroyer). (43-11)
*January 22: Loss by disqualification to Hassan Abu Saada. (43-12)
*Daark Ages: Pinned Psychotic Sam in a falls count anywhere match for the extreme championship. (44-12)
*January 29: Went to a no contest with Wolverine. (44-12)
*February 5: Pinned by The Cult Master. (44-13)
*February 12: Pinned The Cult Master in a falls count anywhere match. (45-13)
*February 19: Pinned Daark for the world championship. (46-13)
*Invasion: Pinned Wolverine in a street fight. (47-13)
*March 4: Pinned Mr. Beumont. (48-13)
*March 11: Loss by disqualification to The Regulator. (48-14)
*March 18: With The Bootlegger, pinned The Congregation. (49-14)
*March Mayhem: Defeated The Ryno in a noose match; pinned by The Bootlegger for the world championship. (50-15)
*April 8: Pinned Aries. (51-15)
*April 15: Served as guest referee for The Congregation vs. Crimson no disqualification handicap match. (51-15)
*Homicidal Tendencies: With The Joker's Child, pinned Instruments of Destruction in a dangerous game match. (52-15)
*April 29: With "Amazing" Andrew Peters, pinned by Aries & Hades. (52-16)
*May 6: Pinned The Bootlegger. (53-16)
*May 13: Won a triple threat match over Psychotic Sam and "Amazing" Andrew Peters, pinning Peters. (54-16)
*May 20: With Psychotic Sam, pinned Death in a handicap match. (55-16)
*WrestleFest 2000: Participated in survivor's cup rumble (May 31); pinned by Psychotic Sam. (55-17)
*July 22: With Harbinger, pinned Aries & Hades. (56-17)
*BattleGround 3: With Psychotic Sam, Harbinger & Mr. Beumont, lost to Aries, Hades, Baital & Nashira in an elimination match. (56-18)
*August 19: With Twisted Steel, defeated Aries & The Ryno by DQ. (57-18)
*Apocalypse: Defeated by The Destroyer. (57-19)
*August 26: With Harbinger, pinned by Side Project. (57-20)
*September 2: Defeated by Glycerine by DQ. (57-21)
*Vindication: Pinned by Glycerine. (57-22)
*October 15: Defeated Benjamin Childs in a submission match. (58-22)
*Final Judgment: Defeated The Cult Master in the house of the dead for the world championship; lost by submission to Diamond King for the world championship. (59-23)
They Said It...
"What has the world come to? How can a rapscallion such as Virus Richards be admitted to this hallowed hall? The man consorts with the dregs of society (i.e. Michael, Ouija Lullabye, Joker's Child and Psychotic Sam for instance), profits from the trafficking of controlled substances and gleefully contributes to the delinquency of minors (remember poor Perry Jr.?). And for this we honor Mr. Richards? The man is a wizard of chicanery. Do we really want to raise this despicable wretch up as an example to the children who follow our every move? I THINK NOT! Should we teach them to win at any cost? (See the Man in the Box match versus Dr. No Limit.) NO! The ends justify the means? (See the betrayal of my trust at the Shipwreck Match when Richards 'defeated' me.) Again, I SAY NO! Stand up and be heard. Sure, Virus Richards is ingenius in his approach to the game (I know I'll never be able to look at a bottle of Geritol in quite the same way) and his antics have garnered much attention for the Midwestern Mayhem Promotion. But does that mean that we should hold him up as an example? I think not. Every just man should rise up and be counted, an injustice of this magnitude cannot be tolerated." -- Captain Patrick O'Conner
"That cocky bastard Virus borrowed my VCR and never gave it back!" -- Controversy
"There are many things that can be said about him. Evil. Conniving. Devious. I wouldn’t want to say anything bad about him. I’ve only been up against him once, and everyone knows that I totally dominated. I let him Virus get a win over me, because I knew he needed one more win to get into the Hall of Fame, so I gave it to him. I still don’t know why I’m not there." -- Death
"Along with The Bootlegger, Mr. Richards stands as the only person with an evil to rival that of O'Connor. His sinister undertakings concerning my Harbinger have enabled him to attack my Fold on a more personal level than any other before or since. He too shall remain a favorite enemy of mine................" -- The Cult Master
"Holy sh*t. I'm almost ashamed to be a Hall Of Famer now if my plaques has to be displayed next to his. My God, the Hall Of Fame must've really been strapped for nominees. Virus does not need to be associated with anything that has to do with exceptional wrestling ability, considering he has none. The only athletic ability he has is running...from challenges. When he doesn't cower away from wrestlers better than him (I.E. everyone else on the roster), he has to have someone else give him the wins. The man has disgraced the World and Extreme titles...at the same f*cking time, for Christ's sake." -- The Ryno
© 1997 cnes@king.igs.net
