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- Virgil, whose actual identify was Michael Jones, is finest remembered for his time wrestling in World Wrestling Leisure throughout the Eighties and Nineties
Former WWE celebrity Virgil has died on the age of 61, weeks after it was broadly reported that he suffered ‘a number of strokes,’ an organization spokesman confirmed to DailyMail.com.
Virgil, whose actual identify was Michael Jones, is finest remembered for his time wrestling in World Wrestling Leisure throughout the Eighties and Nineties.
In keeping with referee Mark Charles III, who first broke then information of his unhappy dying, Virgil died handed away Wednesday, peacefully in a hospital. In 2022, the star was identified with dementia and suffered two strokes.
He started with the corporate because the dangerous man bodyguard of one of many firm’s supreme villains, The Million Greenback Man Ted DiBiase.
Nonetheless, in 1991 he sensationally turned on his on-screen boss and turn out to be a great man, defeated DiBiase at that yr’s Wrestlemania and Summerslam pay per views with icon Rowdy Roddy Piper by his facet.
He did not capitalize on that success and spent the remainder of his time with WWE as a jobber or enhancement expertise earlier than leaping ship like lots of his colleagues to World Championship Wrestling within the mid Nineties.
Within the time of purgatory between WWE and WCW, Virgil was concerned in one of the stunning angles in unbiased wrestling his when his two rivals, together with Jim ‘The Anvil’ Neidhart, former tag group companion of Bret Hart, wore KKK robes to the ring.
Whereas at WCW, Virgil switched his identify to Vincent, a nod to WWE proprietor Vince McMahon. His identify in WWE was a joke in opposition to WCW government and star Dusty Rhodes, whose actual identify was Virgil Runnells.
He joined the heel New World Order steady led by fellow former WWE star Hulk Hogan. Virgil credited Hogan with getting him employed with the Ted Turner-owned firm.
Virgil remained with the corporate till mid-2000 when accidents compelled his retirement from the ring.
In a 2016 interview, DiBiase pulled again the curtain on his his relationship with Virgil, saying that the pair have been by no means too shut however at all times received alongside collectively.
Nonetheless, in contrast to lots of his hard-partying colleague, Virgil by no means drank, smoke or took medicine throughout his profession.
‘We might do our factor on the street after which I might see him in three days or per week, no matter it was on the time. I did not actually socialize so much with him so to talk, however we had an important working relationship and we have been pals,’ DiBiase stated.
Nonetheless, the connection soured in later years when DiBiase found that Virgil had been utilizing his former companion’s identify when reserving himself in for private appearances at wrestling conventions with out DiBiase’s information.
‘You generally reap what you sow. You do issues the flawed manner and it comes again to chunk you. I actually suppose that’s what occurred to him,’ DiBiase added.
Virgil fell on exhausting occasions in newer years. In 2021, he was compelled to arrange a GoFundMe web page to assist to pay for his medical care. Those that donated greater than $25 would obtain a signed picture.
One other web page was arrange in 2023 which noticed him try to lift $400 so as to pay for garments and toiletries.
In keeping with that web page, Virgil was weighing round 154 kilos, practically 100 kilos lower than he weighed throughout his wrestling profession. The web page additionally stated that he now had restricted use of his arms and hand.
‘The dementia can also be taking extra of a toll,’ the web page added.
Virgil received his begin in wrestling after assembly fellow legend Tony Atlas on the health club in Pennsylvania. Previous to that, he had been a star defensive again for Virginia Union College, the place he was additionally an beginner wrestler.
Skilled by Afa of The Wild Samoans, Virgil received his break within the Continental Wrestling Affiliation in Memphis the place he was often known as Soul Prepare Jones.
From there, he was signed by Vince McMahon.
In his position with the Greenwich-based behemoth, Virgil participated in memorable vignettes which noticed The Million Greenback Man exhibit wealth by having members of the general public carry out humiliating tasked for meager sums of money.
After leaving mainstream wrestling, Virgil carried out at unbiased exhibits and a wrestling conventions. In 2010, he reappeared on WWE tv reprising his position as bodyguard for Ted DiBiase Jr.
He additionally managed to go viral because of some weird statements and moments.
In 2022, Virgil claimed in an interview that he had intercourse with a million ladies throughout his life.
A yr earlier, he charged Brooke Hogan, daughter of Hulk Hogan, $30 for a photograph and autograph ‘combo.’
‘I do not care who your Daddy is, nonetheless be $20 for a pic, $30 for the autograph combo honey,’ he wrote.
Amongst his carers in his later years was Pittsburgh wrestling referee Mark Charles III.
‘My expensive pals, it’s with nice sorrow that I convey information from the Jones household of the passing of our beloved Michael Jones, whom we all know and liked as Virgil, Vincent, Soul Prepare Jones and extra,’ Charles wrote in a heartbreaking Fb publish.
‘Virgil handed peacefully on the hospital this morning and I ask that you simply pray for him and for his household. Could his reminiscence be everlasting!’
Charles earlier posted about making an attempt to get Virgil moved to a nursing dwelling facility.
His dying comes the day after the passing of wrestling legend and Four Horsemen founder Ole Anderson.
