NEW DELHI:
Michael Jones
, the former
WWE star
widely known by his
wrestling
name Virgil, has passed away at the age of
61
, as confirmed by his verified Instagram account. The announcement, shared on social media, expressed the sorrow of losing the "Meatsauce God and Wrestling Superstar" and asked fans to remember him for the person he was.
The Instagram post stated, "This is to confirm the sad news about our beloved Meatsauce God and Wrestling Superstar Virgil/Michael Jones has passed away.
There is so much to say here and would love to share stories but for now, it’s a rough day as our friend is gone."
The post continued, "We would only ask at this time to remember him as the man that he was. Wishing him all the unlimited pasta in heaven. We love you Mike.”
Wrestling referee and friend
Mark Charles III
initially broke the news on Facebook, asking for prayers for Virgil and his family. The announcement mentioned that Virgil passed away peacefully at the hospital.
Numerous members of the wrestling community paid tribute to Virgil on social media.
WWE Hall of Famer Jake Roberts expressed shock and sadness, writing, "Shocked and saddened to hear the news about Virgil. Rest in peace, my friend."
Former WWE superstar Luke Gallows also offered his condolences, saying, "R.I.P Virgil, thanks for being a great sport during our shenanigans & for the memories. See you down the road good brother."
Virgil began his WWE career as the bodyguard for the "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase in the late 1980s. His rebellion against DiBiase in the 1990s, leading to him winning the Million Dollar Championship, made Virgil one of WWE's most popular superstars. Despite his wrestling success, Jones had been dealing with health issues in recent years, including two strokes and an early stage of dementia, as revealed in April 2022. The cause of his death has not been disclosed publicly.
(Inputs from agencies)
English (US) ·