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Virgil was one of the highlights of WWE during the 80s and early 90s. He was largely a mid-carder in his career, working alongside Ted DiBiase and he sadly passed away recently. Ted DiBiase has now broken his silence regarding Virgil’s demise.
Earlier this week, the wrestling world mourned the loss of WWE and WCW legend Virgil, also known as Vincent, with his real name being Michael Jones. He passed away at the age of just 61.
WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase shared his thoughts on the passing of Virgil during an episode of the Everybody’s Got A Pod podcast. DiBiase reflected on their time working together in WWE, where Virgil served as DiBiase’s bodyguard. DiBiase praised Virgil’s physique and discipline but mentioned that Virgil’s limited wrestling savvy impacted the success of their on-screen partnership.
“I was really sad to hear that,” DiBiase said. “Mike Jones is Virgil’s real name or was Virgil’s real name. We met in the WWE office when this whole thing with the Million Dollar Man started. Back then, Mike had this tremendous body and kept himself in shape and eventually that was his role. He was the bodyguard. I would run my mouth and if somebody wanted to say something, I would back up and say, ‘Virgil, take over.’ We did a thing where basically as Virgil, he gets tired of my crap and says, ‘I’m not doing it anymore.’ We ended up having a match. Mike was a great guy, a nice guy.”
”To keep your body in that kind of shape takes a lot of discipline and he was very good at that. He was much better at doing that than I obviously was in terms of keeping his body in great shape. I just wish that he had more wrestling savvy. I don’t know how to put it any other way because if he could have really wrestled, we could have had a good run, but basically it was on and it was over pretty quick. Good ol Virgil. He didn’t have the charisma. It was probably over before it really started, but we continued to be friends.”
DiBiase acknowledged their continued friendship over the years, occasional meet-ups at Comic Cons, and Virgil’s struggles, expressing sadness over his passing and describing it as a “sad story.” He also mentioned his attempt to help Virgil secure a spot in WCW when DiBiase joined the promotion.
“I would see him at some of the Comic Cons from time to time. I said, ‘If you get booked on any of the Comic Cons and we end up there together, then please come and sit with me.’ I did that much, but the reason that I stopped doing it was things that Virgil had said to some fans that just wasn’t right. I’m looking back at it from where I am now. He never would say that to me, but he didn’t want anyone to know that he was struggling. Later, I did find out. I can’t remember the guy’s name that was his caretaker, but he was seeing to it that he was taken care of a little bit better. I just don’t know. It’s mind-boggling to me because I don’t know who he was living with or how he was living, but I know that it was not good. It’s just a sad story.”
“When I went to WCW, that’s one of the things I did. They had all these people coming over. It was kind of like the wrestlers were taking over. If you’re taking over, then obviously you need security and I said, ‘What better security could I have than the guy who was my security for all those years’, so I got Virgil booked with WCW.”
Virgil’s influence on the wrestling community went beyond his role as a bodyguard; he evolved into a symbol of perseverance and grit, leaving a lasting imprint on the hearts of fans globally.
As tributes flow in from peers, friends, and supporters, his legacy will serve as a perpetual wellspring of inspiration for successive generations of wrestlers and enthusiasts. Although Michael Jones has departed this realm, his spirit will eternally reside within the squared circle, a testament to the fervor and commitment that characterize genuine wrestling greatness.
What do you think of what Ted DiBiase had to say about Virgil’s unfortunate passing? Let us know in the comments section below!
