Former WWE Star Virgil Dies at Age 61

WWE announced Wednesday that Michael Jones, who wrestled under the name Virgil in WWE and Vincent in WCW, died at the age of 61.

Several current and former pro wrestlers remembered Virgil on social media Wednesday, including Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Matt Hardy, Marc Mero and Frankie Kazarian:

Virgil got his big break in 1986 when he signed with WWE and began wrestling under the name Lucius Brown, but it was in 1987 when he was thrust into the spotlight.

WWE rebranded him as Virgil and cast him as the bodyguard of Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase, who was one of the preeminent heels in pro wrestling from the late 1980s into the early 1990s.

As DiBiase’s bodyguard, Virgil wrestled sparingly, but he almost always got involved in Million Dollar Man’s matches and oftentimes helped him win.

With Virgil by his side, DiBiase purchased the WWE Championship from Andre the Giant, although he was never officially recognized by WWE as champion. That prompted him to create and defend the Million Dollar Championship.

The Virgil character became fed up with DiBiase’s tyrannical ways in 1991, as Virgil turned on DiBiase at Royal Rumble 1991 after their tag team win over Dusty and Dustin Rhodes.

DiBiase disrespected and slapped Virgil, which prompted Virgil to retaliate and branch out on his own as a babyface.

Virgil beat DiBiase by count-out at WrestleMania 6 and then scored the biggest victory of his career at SummerSlam 1991, beating DiBiase for the Million Dollar Championship.

While he lost the title back to DiBiase three months later, Virgil remains one of only six Superstars in WWE history to be recognized as million dollar champion.

Virgil departed WWE in 1994, and after a brief return in 1995, he signed with WCW in 1996.

WCW was red hot at the time thanks to the creation of the New World Order (nWo), and Virgil joined the group under the name Vincent. He reunited with DiBiase in the stable and was named the head of security.

The name Vincent was a play on then-WWE owner Vince McMahon, much like his Virgil name was in reference to the real-life name of former WCW and WWE star Dusty Rhodes.

Vincent was primarily used as enhancement talent, but he was often featured in significant angles thanks to his status as an nWo member.

Virgil retired from wrestling in 2000, but he resurfaced in WWE for a short time in 2010 when he served as the bodyguard for DiBiase’s son, Ted DiBiase Jr.

In more recent years, Virgil made appearances for AEW in 2019 and 2020 under the name Soul Train Jones, aligning himself with Chris Jericho’s Inner Circle stable.