- Virgil, whose real name was Michael Jones, is best remembered for his time wrestling in World Wrestling Entertainment during the 1980s and 1990s
Former WWE superstar Virgil has died at the age of 61, weeks after it was widely reported that he suffered ‘several strokes,’ a company spokesman confirmed to DailyMail.com.
Virgil, whose real name was Michael Jones, is best remembered for his time wrestling in World Wrestling Entertainment during the 1980s and 1990s.
According to referee Mark Charles III, who first broke then news of his sad death, Virgil died passed away Wednesday, peacefully in a hospital. In 2022, the star was diagnosed with dementia and suffered two strokes.
He began with the company as the bad guy bodyguard of one of the company’s supreme villains, The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase.
However, in 1991 he sensationally turned on his on-screen boss and become a good guy, defeated DiBiase at that year’s Wrestlemania and Summerslam pay per views.
He failed to capitalize on that success and spent the rest of his time with WWE as a jobber or enhancement talent before jumping ship like many of his colleagues to World Championship Wrestling in the mid 1990s.
Virgil pictured during his heyday as The Million Dollar Man’s bodyguard during the wrestling boom of the 1980s
Virgil pictured during one of his epic battles with Ted DiBiase that captured the fans imagination after he stood up to his cruel boss
At the end of those battles, Virgil emerged victorious as the Million Dollar Champion
While at WCW, Virgil switched his name to Vincent, a nod to WWE owner Vince McMahon.
He joined the heel New World Order stable led by fellow former WWE star Hulk Hogan. Virgil remained with the company until mid-2000 when injuries forced his retirement from the ring.
Since then, he has been a staple on the wrestling exhibition show circuit.
Virgil fell on hard times in more recent years. In 2021, he was forced to set up a GoFundMe page to help to pay for his medical care. Those who donated more than $25 would receive a signed photo.
Another page was set up in 2023 which saw him attempt to raise $400 in order to pay for clothes and toiletries.
According to that page, Virgil was weighing around 154 pounds, nearly 100 pounds less than he weighed during his wrestling career. The page also said that he now had limited use of his arms and hand.
‘The dementia is also taking more of a toll,’ the page added.
His death comes the day after the passing of wrestling legend and Four Horsemen founder Ole Anderson.