Michael Jones, who is best known as WWE legend Virgil and Ted DiBiase’s personal bodyguard, has reportedly passed away at the age of 61.
Mark Charles III, a wrestling referee, took to Facebook to announce the shocking news on Wednesday, Feb. 28. “My dear friends, it is with great sorrow that I bring news from the Jones family of the passing of our beloved Michael Jones,” the post reads. “Whom we know and loved as Virgil, Vincent, Soul Train Jones, and more. Virgil passed peacefully at the hospital this morning and I ask that you pray for him and for his family. May his memory be eternal!”
Virgil made his wrestling debut in 1985 and competed for promotions such as the Championship Wrestling Association, where he earned the heavyweight title. He was also in the tag team championship alongside Rocky Johnson.
He eventually moved on to the WWE, where he gained popularity with DiBiase. However, he eventually turned on DiBiase at Summerslam 1991. He also defeated him at WrestleMania VII.
Following his time at the National Wrestling Conference, Virgil debuted with WCW under a new name – Vincent. He became the head of security for nWo. He worked with various wrestling stars, including Hulk Hogan, until his official departure in 1999.
However, Virgil did return to the WWE in 2010 as Ted DiBiase Jr.’s bodyguard. He also made appearances at AEW as Soul Train Jones.
Jones had spoken highly of DiBiase Jr. “Ted DiBiase’s quality as a wrestler was matched only by Ted DiBiase’s quality as a man. We were together every day for years, and we never had a single fight. It was two men getting along as gentlemen, professionals and friends. Together, we were the greatest act in sports-entertainment.”
Virgil Was Diagnosed With Dementia in 2022 and Suffered Two Minor Strokes
Slam Wrestling reported that in 2022, Virgil was diagnosed with dementia and suffered from two minor strokes.
Although he claimed to have been diagnosed with stage two colon cancer that same year, Virgil’s sister Toni told Charles that wasn’t the case. “Tonig said there was never any cancer,” Charles pointed out.
Despite his most recent health issues, Jones had been pretty active following his wrestling career’s end. He notably earned a degree in mathematics from the University of Virginia. He had also spoken about the life lessons he learned while wrestling.
“On the road, you learn how to respect people,” Jones once explained. “That is a lesson that can be useful for my students or any students. WWE is a first-class organization, and while there you learn how to become a first-class individual,” he told Hoffman.
“You learn how to control yourself in different situations, how to act around people, how to bite your tongue, and how to turn the other cheek and walk away. All that stuff translates to the real world.”