Former WWE Star Virgil Reveals Dementia Diagnosis
He also says he suffered two strokes
Apr 16, 2022
Former WWE and WCW star Virgil has announced that he is suffering from the early stages of dementia.
The 59-year-old former wrestler revealed in a Twitter thread that he started feeling unwell during WrestleMania weekend. He was later diagnosed with dementia, on top of learning that he suffered two strokes.
He wrote, “For starters- without me knowing, over the past few months the doctor had identified that I suffered 2 massive strokes. I didn't even have a clue till I started not working with 1 of my arms. It’s basically not able to do anything. This was the decent news. The worse news is that I have been told that I am fighting with an early stage of dementia.
"The years of taking the big main event bump every night (that nobody else wanted to take) had started to affect me. I’m nervous, I'm scared & God knows I can’t afford 2 get through this & even make a living. It’s really sad as all I want to do is have fun & do what I always do. Survive.”
Virgil is best known for his WWE run between 1987 and 1994, specifically in his role as bodyguard for (and later the rival of) Ted Dibiase. Virgil was also a member of the nWo, and made several appearances in AEW as Soul Train Jones, a name he used earlier in his career.
