Joey Janela took to Twitter on Wednesday to pay tribute to the late Virgil.
As we previously reported here on eWn, Virgil passed away on Wednesday at the age of 61. Janela wrote,
“Sad way to wake up this morning to find out my friend Michael “Virgil” Jones passed on to the great Olive Garden in the sky.
I met Virgil when I was 11 at an indie wrestling show, I walked up and said hello and he tried to finagle me for $20 a picture. I did not have any money but instead he said “Kid, hold my bag” fast forward 2 years later I walked into the Super Mega show toy convention and my friends dad went “Joey, that guy over there is calling your name. Too much confusion and surprise it was “WWF Superstar” Virgil some how he remembered me.
Many years later when we came up with the Spring Break show the first name that came to mind that we needed to get for this show was Virgil himself, which permanently cemented himself as a part of the Janelaverse forever!
I had many great times with Michael, he was one of the funniest characters I’ve ever met in the business and always meant well. From getting the promoter in England to fly him out on 2 days notice because we were drunk and I wanted to hang out with him which would be his last time across the pond, to bringing him to the AEW hotel to rib and annoy the boys. Virgil was always a team player and brought smiles to peoples faces.
But let’s not his contributions to the business back in the day as his act with the million dollar man Ted Dibiase and massive babyface turn is something very memorable and still talked about today. If you were in the business then or if you ran into virgil in the last 20 years you had a story that you’d remember forever.
I looked forward to seeing him this year in Philadelphia, but that sadly that won’t happen, but I have many memories with the Meatsauce god that will last a lifetime!
RIP VIRGIL!”
R-Truth sees a lot of Shawn Michaels in Johnny Gargano.
The official Twitter account of WWE NXT tweeted out a video of Truth at the WWE Performance Center.
In the video, which you can see below, R-Truth opens a door and addresses ‘Gargano’. As the camera pans and R-Truth walks away, it is revealed that R-Truth was actually talking to the Heartbreak Kid:
“I see a lot of Shawn Michaels in you”
Oh, @RonKillings… 😂 pic.twitter.com/6OrRdJaSOy
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) February 28, 2024
And finally, Liv Morgan shared a “Digital Exclusive” promo she did following this week’s episode of WWE RAW. You can check that out below:
Before Becky so rudely interrupted me … pic.twitter.com/UAQYjc7AA7
— LIV Morgan (@YaOnlyLivvOnce) February 28, 2024
The wrestling community is mourning the loss of Michael “Virgil” Jones, who passed away at the age of 61. Wrestler Joey Janela took to Twitter to pay tribute to his friend and share some fond memories.
Janela first met Virgil when he was just 11 years old at an indie wrestling show. Despite not having any money to pay for a picture, Virgil asked him to hold his bag. Two years later, Janela encountered Virgil again at a toy convention, where Virgil remembered him. This encounter sparked a lasting friendship.
When Janela came up with the idea for the Spring Break show, Virgil was the first name that came to mind. He became an integral part of the Janelaverse and left a lasting impact on Janela’s career.
Janela fondly remembers Virgil as one of the funniest characters he has ever met in the wrestling business. He recalls various humorous incidents, such as convincing a promoter in England to fly Virgil out on short notice so they could hang out together. Janela also mentions bringing Virgil to the AEW hotel to play pranks on their fellow wrestlers. Virgil was always a team player and brought smiles to people’s faces.
Aside from his comedic contributions, Virgil’s act with Ted Dibiase as the million dollar man and his subsequent babyface turn are still talked about in the wrestling world today. Whether you were in the business during that time or encountered Virgil in the last two decades, you likely have a memorable story to share.
Janela expresses his sadness that he won’t be able to see Virgil this year in Philadelphia, but he cherishes the memories he has with the “Meatsauce god” that will last a lifetime.
In other wrestling news, R-Truth sees similarities between Johnny Gargano and Shawn Michaels. In a video posted by WWE NXT, R-Truth addresses ‘Gargano’ before revealing that he was actually talking to the Heartbreak Kid himself. This comparison speaks to Gargano’s talent and potential in the wrestling industry.
Additionally, Liv Morgan shared a “Digital Exclusive” promo following an episode of WWE RAW. Unfortunately, her promo was interrupted by Becky Lynch. The video showcases Morgan’s charisma and determination as she continues to make her mark in the wrestling world.
These recent events in the wrestling community highlight the camaraderie and respect among wrestlers, as well as the ongoing excitement and developments within the industry.