Former WWE superstar Virgil dies at 61, weeks after suffering 'several strokes'

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 with icon Rowdy Roddy Piper by his side. 

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

In the time of purgatory between WWE and WCW, Virgil was involved in one of the most shocking angles in independent wrestling his when his two rivals, including Jim 'The Anvil' Neidhart, former tag team partner of Bret Hart, wore KKK robes to the ring.

While at WCW, Virgil switched his name to Vincent, a nod to WWE owner Vince McMahon. His name in WWE was a joke against WCW executive and star Dusty Rhodes, whose real name was Virgil Runnells. 

He joined the heel New World Order stable led by fellow former WWE star Hulk Hogan. Virgil credited Hogan with getting him hired with the Ted Turner-owned company. 

Virgil remained with the company until mid-2000 when injuries forced his retirement from the ring. 

In a 2016 interview, DiBiase pulled back the curtain on his his relationship with Virgil, saying that the pair were never too close but always got along together. 

However, unlike many of his hard-partying colleague, Virgil never drank, smoke or took drugs during his career. 

'We would do our thing on the road and then I would see him in three days or a week, whatever it was at the time. I didn't really socialize a lot with him so to speak, but we had a great working relationship and we were friends,' DiBiase said. 

However, the relationship soured in later years when DiBiase discovered that Virgil had been using his former partner's name when booking himself in for personal appearances at wrestling conventions without DiBiase's knowledge. 

'You sometimes reap what you sow. You do things the wrong way and it comes back to bite you. I really think that is what happened to him,' DiBiase added. 

In a 2016 interview, Ted DiBiase revealed that unlike many of his fellow stars, Virgil never drank, smoke or took drugs

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. 

Virgil got his start in wrestling after meeting fellow legend Tony Atlas at the gym in Pennsylvania. Prior to that, he had been a star defensive back for Virginia Union University, where he was also an amateur wrestler. 

Trained by Afa of The Wild Samoans, Virgil got his break in the Continental Wrestling Association in Memphis where he was known as Soul Train Jones.

From there, he was signed by Vince McMahon. 

In his role with the Greenwich-based behemoth, Virgil participated in memorable vignettes which saw The Million Dollar Man show off wealth by having members of the public perform humiliating tasked for meager sums of cash. 

Trained by Afa of The Wild Samoans, Virgil got his break in the Continental Wrestling Association in Memphis where he was known as Soul Train Jones 

While at WCW, Virgil switched his name to Vincent, a nod to WWE owner Vince McMahon

Virgil pictured later in his run for WWE where he was largely used as an enhancement talent for bigger names 

After leaving mainstream wrestling, Virgil performed at independent shows and a wrestling conventions. In 2010, he reappeared on WWE television reprising his role as bodyguard for Ted DiBiase Jr. 

He also managed to go viral thanks to some bizarre statements and moments. 

In 2022, Virgil claimed in an interview that he had sex with one million women during his life. 

A year earlier, he charged Brooke Hogan, daughter of Hulk Hogan, $30 for a photo and autograph 'combo.'

'I don't care who your Daddy is, still be $20 for a pic, $30 for the autograph combo honey,' he wrote.  

Among his carers in his later years was Pittsburgh wrestling referee Mark Charles III. 

'My dear friends, it is with great sorrow that I bring news from the Jones family of the passing of our beloved Michael Jones, whom we know and loved as Virgil, Vincent, Soul Train Jones and more,' Charles wrote in a heartbreaking Facebook post. 

'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!'

Charles earlier posted about trying to get Virgil moved to a nursing home facility.  

His death comes the day after the passing of wrestling legend and Four Horsemen founder Ole Anderson.