Virgil, the previous WWE star greatest identified for being the bodyguard for the “Million Greenback Man” Ted DiBiase, has died, in accordance with a publish on his verified Instagram account.
He was 61.
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Lately Virgil had a number of strokes and was identified with dementia, in accordance with TMZ.
“That is to verify the unhappy information about our beloved Meatsauce God and Wrestling Celebrity Virgil/Michael Jones has handed away,” a press release on Virgil’s Instagram stated.
“There may be a lot to say right here and would like to share tales however for now it’s a tough day as our buddy is gone. We might solely ask right now to recollect him as the person that he was. Wishing him all of the limitless pasta in heaven. We love you Mike.”
Virgil started his profession in 1985 in Memphis with the Championship Wrestling Affiliation as Soul Practice Jones, and he’d later change into the AWA Worldwide Heavyweight champion and an AWA Southern Tag Crew champion with Rocky Johnson, the daddy of The Rock.
He gained nationwide acclaim after shifting to what was then generally known as the WWF in 1986, carrying DiBiase’s cash and standing by DiBiase’s facet throughout his run within the main-event scene.
Virgil turned on DiBiase in 1991, defeating him at WrestleMania VII and later that yr beating him for the Million Greenback Championship at SummerSlam.
After leaving the WWF in 1994, Virgil reunited with DiBiase in WCW as a member of the nWo. He left WCW in 2000 and retired as a daily in-ring wrestler.
“Shocked and saddened to listen to the information about Virgil. Relaxation in peace, my buddy,” wrestling nice Jake “The Snake Roberts wrote on X.
Longtime WWE star and present AEW wrestler Matt Hardy additionally paid tribute to Virgil on X.
“Virgil was a humorous, distinctive person who was all the time cool to me & I’m saddened to listen to about his passing. My ideas exit to his household, associates & followers,” Hardy wrote.
This text initially appeared on the NY Put up and was reproduced with permission.