Professional wrestling legend, Michael Jones, who was finest often known as “Virgil” in WWE and “Vincent” in WCW through the Eighties and ’90s, has handed away on the age of 61.
The information was first introduced by Jones pal and wrestling referee, Mark “The Rely” Charles III, who wrote:
“My pricey buddies, it’s with nice sorrow that I carry information from the Jones household of the passing of our beloved Michael Jones, whom we all know and cherished as Virgil, Vincent, Soul Prepare Jones and extra. Virgil handed peacefully on the hospital this morning and I ask that you simply pray for him and for his household. Might his reminiscence be everlasting!”
Jones was a profitable beginner wrestler earlier than making his professional debut as “Soul Prepare” Jones in 1985. He signed with WWE (then WWF) in 1987 and rapidly grew to become a staple of our tv screens portraying the character of “Virgil” — the long-suffering assistant and bodyguard to the “The Million Greenback Man” Ted DiBiase. That iconic function noticed him and DiBiase assist Andre “The Big” to win the world championship from Hulk Hogan in 1988, when “The Million Greenback Man” paid off the referee’s twin brother to screw “The Hulkster” out of his title. That match drew an unbelievable 33 million tv viewers and Jones was additional immortalized on traditional video arcade video games akin to “WWF Superstars” in 1989. In 1991, Virgil lastly turned in opposition to DiBiase and have become a fan favourite, defeating his former boss at SummerSlam 1991 and successful the coveted “Million Greenback Championship” within the course of.
Jones was additionally part of the well-known professional wrestling “Monday Night time Wars”, signing with WCW in 1996 because the “Head of Safety” for the red-hot NWO faction. He was renamed to “Vincent” nonetheless, in a transfer by WCW that was stated to mock WWE’s then proprietor, Vince McMahon. Whereas Jones left WCW within the yr 2000, he was a mainstay at fan conventions and autograph signings, and built-up a following on Twitter/X , for his humour and sometimes controversial remarks, referring to himself in jest as “The Meatsauce God.”
It’s understood that in recent times, Jones had been struggling with plenty of critical well being points together with battling a number of strokes, and being recognized with each dementia and colon most cancers.
An array of stars from the worlds of showbiz and professional wrestling have paid tribute to Jones together with 80s icon, “The Honky Tonk Man,” who took to X to pay his respects. “Condolences exit to the household of Virgil,” he wrote. “Such an incredible man. An actual gentleman. Will miss you my pal!” Relaxation in Peace Michael Jones 1982 – 2024.
