On a recent edition of his “Everybody’s Got A Pod” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase Sr. discussed the passing of Virgil, his relationship with Virgil who was his valet in WWE, and more.
Virgil passed away earlier this week at the age of 61 after battling various health issues.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On Virgil’s passing: “I was really sad to hear that. Mike Jones is Virgil’s real name. And we met in the WWE office when this whole thing with the Million Dollar Man started. And you know, back then Mike had — oh my gosh, you know, he had this tremendous body and kept himself in shape. And basically, that was his role. He was like the bodyguard. I would run my mouth, and if somebody wanted to say something I’d back up and say, ‘Virgil, take over.’ But we did a thing where basically as Virgil, Mike gets tired of all my crap, right? And just says, ‘I’m not doing it anymore.’ And so, we ended up having a one-off and had a match. And doggone it, you know, Mike was a great guy, nice guy. And like I said, 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 been 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 old Virgil, he didn’t have the charisma. And so you know, it was probably over before it really started. But you know, we continue to be friends, and I would see him at some of the comic cons from time to time. And I told him going forward, 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.’ And I did that much. But the reason that I stopped doing that was things that Virgil had said to some fans that just — you know, it wasn’t right. But I’m looking back at it from where I am now, and I’m going — and see, he never would say that to me. He didn’t want anybody to know that he was struggling. And later, I find out. I couldn’t remember the guy’s name that was his caretaker, but it was the seeing to it that he was taking care of a little bit better. And I just don’t know. It’s mind-boggling to me because, you know, 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 — it’s just a sad story.”
On the work Virgil did in WCW: “As a matter of fact, when I went to WCW that’s one of the things I did is — like, they had all these people that were coming over. And it was kind of like [the storyline was] the wrestlers were taking over. So if you’re taking over, then obviously you need security. And I said, ‘What better security could I have been the guy who was my security for all those years?’ And so I got Virgil booked with WCW.”
In a recent episode of his podcast, “Everybody’s Got A Pod,” WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase Sr. discussed the passing of Virgil, his former valet in WWE, and shared some insights into their relationship. Virgil, whose real name is Mike Jones, passed away earlier this week at the age of 61 after battling various health issues.
Ted DiBiase Sr. recalled meeting Mike Jones in the WWE office when their storyline as the Million Dollar Man and Virgil began. He praised Jones for his impressive physique and discipline in maintaining his body shape. Virgil’s role was to act as the bodyguard for DiBiase, stepping in when someone wanted to confront him. They even had a one-off match when Virgil got tired of DiBiase’s behavior. Despite not having exceptional wrestling skills, DiBiase considered Jones a great guy and wished they could have had a longer run together.
However, DiBiase acknowledged that Virgil lacked charisma, which may have contributed to their partnership ending quickly. Despite this, they remained friends and would occasionally meet at comic cons. DiBiase mentioned that he had invited Virgil to sit with him at these events but stopped doing so due to some inappropriate comments Virgil made to fans. Looking back, DiBiase realized that Virgil never wanted anyone to know about his struggles and the difficulties he faced in his personal life.
DiBiase also discussed the work Virgil did in WCW (World Championship Wrestling). When DiBiase joined WCW, he decided to bring Virgil along as his security, given their history together. This move allowed Virgil to continue working in the wrestling industry.
The passing of Virgil is a sad story, as DiBiase reflects on the circumstances surrounding his friend’s life. While he doesn’t have all the details about Virgil’s living situation or caretaker, DiBiase believes it was not ideal. He expresses his regret that he couldn’t do more to help Virgil and wishes things could have been different.
Overall, Ted DiBiase Sr.’s discussion on his podcast provides insight into his relationship with Virgil and sheds light on the challenges and struggles that Virgil faced both in and out of the wrestling world. It serves as a reminder of the complexities and hardships that can accompany a career in professional wrestling.