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- By Kathryn Armstrong
- bbc news
Michael Jones had several wrestling personas, including Virgil, Vincent, and Soul Train Jones.
American wrestling star Michael Jones, known by names like Virgil and Vincent, has died at the age of 61.
“Virgil passed away peacefully in the hospital this morning (Wednesday),” wrestling referee Mark Charles III, known professionally as The Count, announced on X, formerly Twitter.
His death was also confirmed in posts on his social media accounts.
Jones was best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) during the 1980s and 1990s.
“There is a lot to say here and I would love to share stories, but for now it is a difficult day because our friend is gone,” reads a message posted on his Instagram account.
“Wishing you all the unlimited money in heaven. We love you, Mike.”
Jones, who was born in the US state of Pennsylvania, began wrestling professionally in the mid-1980s under the name Soul Train Jones.
He debuted with the WWF, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), in 1986 and renamed himself Lucius Brown, which was later changed to Virgil.
This personality as Ted DiBiase’s bodyguard, known as The Million Dollar Man, launched him to fame and lasted for several years.
Jones left WWE in 1994 and worked for two years on the smaller independent circuit before joining the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling (WCW) under the name Vincent.
He briefly reinvented himself as Curly Bill for the West Texas Rednecks wrestling team before leaving WCW in 2000 when he retired due to injury.
Jones worked for what is now World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) for several years.
Jones continued to make independent appearances as his various characters before his health began to deteriorate.
In 2022, he revealed that he was suffering from dementia and colon cancer. He also suffered several strokes.
Online fundraising pages had been set up to help pay Jones’ medical bills and, later, pay for expenses including clothing and toiletries.
Among those paying tribute to him following news of his death on Wednesday was WWE Hall of Famer Jake “The Snake” Roberts.
“Shocked and saddened to hear the news about Virgil,” he wrote on X.
“Rest in peace my friend.”
“RIP Virgil, thank you for being a great sport during our antics and for the memories,” wrote fellow WWE star Luke Gallows.
“See you on the road, good brother.”