WWE star Michael Jones, aka Virgil, has died at 61. Wrestling referee Mark Charles III made the sad announcement on February 28. “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!” he shared in a Facebook post.
Jones’ health had deteriorated over the past years. In 2022, he announced in a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter (via Wrestling Inc), that he had suffered two strokes and been diagnosed with dementia.
The athlete made his debut as “Soul Train” Jones in 1987. He became one of the WWE’s top wrestlers before switching to the WCW in 1996. “Whether he was loved or hated, Virgil was one of the most respected Superstars of the 1980s and 1990s, as he was always willing to put himself into battle to protect his interests,” his WWE bio reads.
More to come…
