Prior to the covid-19 pandemic, WWE Superstars visiting children at hospitals around the country was a routine part of their weekly schedule.

WWE is still producing over seven hours of live television each week. all out of Orlando, Fla., and they’re staying committed to having their wrestlers put smiles on faces.

Adam Cole, a star on the Wednesday night NXT show, recently did a virtual meet-and-greet with patients at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Meeting with kids at the Lawrenceville hospital has an even deeper significance because it’s the hospital that is the origin and home base for their Connor’s Cure campaign. which raises money to fight pediatric cancer. It’s named after one of their young fans, Connor Michalek, who passed away in 2014, just three weeks after attending “WrestleMania” as WWE’s guest, witnessing his favorite wrestler win the world championship.

I spoke to Cole about a variety of topics, including his virtual experience meeting the kids.

Q: Not a lot of in-person interactions happening right now. What was it like virtually interacting with the kids at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh?

A: I’ve gone before to see kids anywhere across the United States at different hospitals previously. This was my first virtual meeting I got to do, and it was really, really cool. Of course, it’s not the same as being there in person, but their smiles are still very real. Their excitement is still very real. I could feel that through the screen. It was still really cool to go and meet a lot of these kids and hear what they are into. See how excited they were and take a little time out of their day and brighten it.

Q: Is there a common question, especially kids, you know are going to ask you?

A: One hundred percent! I’m always shocked if the first question they don’t ask is, “Do you know John Cena?” That’s normally No. 1. I don’t blame them. That’s a guaranteed go-to. Once they realize who we are and where we work it’s, “Oh, do you know John Cena!”

Q: You’ve been a fan all your life. When you were a kid, did you have a memorable experience meeting a pro wrestler?

A: I did actually. The first wrestler I ever met was Kurt Angle. I had begged my mom to take me to a book signing. It was like two and a half hours away. I think it was near Pittsburgh actually. We waited for like an hour and a half. I remember going up to meet Kurt Angle. My mom tells me to this day that I just didn’t say anything because I don’t remember it at all. I guess I was so nervous. I had my hands in front of me, and he stuck his hand out to shake my hand and I just kept staring at him and smiling at him. She had to push my arm forward to shake his hand. He had the biggest smile on his face. I remember him being so nice.

This is something sometimes wrestlers might lose sight of. But for me, because I met Kurt Angle and he was nice to me and shook my hand and took the time to smile and laugh and at least act like he was excited to me met — Kurt Angle was one my favorite wrestlers from that point forward just because of that very small interaction. To me, I always try — I know everyone is not perfect — but I always try to be as friendly and accessible as possible when meeting fans because they remember it. I’ll never ever forget meeting Kurt Angle and him being just an absolute gentleman.

Cole also talked about his recent match and issues with former NFL player and Plum native Pat McAfee. See that and more in the video below of the interview.

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