The wrestling community mourns the loss of Michael Jones, the former WWE wrestling star widely known as Virgil, who has died at the age of 61. The news of his passing was confirmed through his verified Instagram account.
In an emotional post, the Instagram account of Michael Jones announced, “This is to confirm the sad news about our beloved Meatsauce God and Wrestling Superstar Virgil/Michael Jones has passed away.” The post continued, “There is so much to say here, and would love to share stories, but for now, it’s a rough day as our friend is gone. We would only ask at this time to remember him as the man that he was, wishing him all the unlimited pasta in heaven. We love you, Mike.”
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The announcement was initially made by wrestling referee and friend Mark Charles III on Facebook. Charles expressed sorrow and requested prayers for Jones and his family, stating, “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!”
Jones, also known by monikers like Vincent and Soul Train Jones, started his WWE career in the late 1980s as the bodyguard for the “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase. His turn against DiBiase in the 1990s, where he defeated him for the Million Dollar Championship, catapulted him to popularity and established him as one of WWE’s most beloved superstars, according to his WWE biography.
The wrestling world has poured out tributes on social media to honor Virgil’s legacy. WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts wrote, “Shocked and saddened to hear the news about Virgil. Rest in peace, my friend.” Former WWE superstar Luke Gallows added, “R.I.P Virgil, thanks for being a great sport during our shenanigans & for the memories. See you down the road good brother.”
While the cause of Jones’ death has not been disclosed, the wrestler had been facing health challenges in recent years. In April 2022, he revealed on X that he had suffered two strokes and had been diagnosed with an early stage of dementia.
