Wherever “The Million-Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase was, his silent but imposing bodyguard Virgil was not far behind.
Michael Jones, the person behind the iconic number-two man in DiBiase’s Millionaire Inc. stable during the WWE’s ’80s boom period, died Wednesday morning. He was 61.
The Wrestling Observer reported that Jones’ friend, wrestling referee Mark Charles III, revealed the passing with WWE later confirming through social media.
Charles wrote:
My dear friends, it is with great sorrow that I bring news from the Jones family of the passing of our beloved Michael Jones, whom we know and loved as Virgil, Vincent, Soul Train Jones and more.
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!
In-ring career
Jones’ active wrestling career stretched from 1985 to his 2000 full-time, in-ring retirement, but he would make multiple one-off appearances into 2020 for various …