Virgil was a WWE star who also wrestled as Soul Train Jones and Victor.
- Died: February 28, 2024 (Who else died on February 28?)
- Details of death: Died after a series of health challenges at the age of 61.
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Virgil’s legacy
Born Michael Jones, Virgil began his career under the ring name Soul Train Jones, wrestling in southern promotions. He joined the WWE in the mid-1980s as Lucius Jones, but he would achieve his greatest fame wrestling as Virgil. He was best known for portraying the bodyguard to “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, beginning in 1987. He wrestled alongside the legendary heel and flaunted money on his behalf. In 1991, Virgil famously turned on DiBiase, joining Roddy Piper (1954–2015) in a tag team.
Virgil left the WWE in 1994, joining World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as a member of the New World Order stable under the ring name Vincent, “Head of Security.” He both wrestled and worked as a valet in the WCW, with further ring name changes including Vince, Curly Bill, and Mr. Jones.
In the years after his 2000 retirement, Virgil returned for a few bouts, but most notably, he achieved pop culture notoriety for his online persona and a persistent meme. In the meme, he sits at a fan convention, ready to sign autographs but with no fans in line. Several such photos were posted to social media with the tag “Lonely Virgil.” Virgil also capitalized on his purported love for Olive Garden as the persona at the center of the mobile video game “Meat Sauce Madness.” Among several persistent but unverifiable rumors about Virgil’s life was that he majored in mathematics and worked as a high school math teacher after retiring from wrestling.
Notable quote
“Standing on the top turnbuckle at the Garden, it doesn’t get any better. Holding that Million Dollar Belt up as 20,000 people chanted my name, it was a moment and a feeling I’ll never forget.” —from a 2007 interview for WWE
Tributes to Virgil
Full obituary: AL.com
