New Jack, legendary pro wrestler for ECW, dead at 58

Jerome Young, best known as the professional wrestler New Jack for Extreme Championship Wrestling and other territories, has died.

He was 58.

PWInsider reports Young passed away after suffering a heart attack in North Carolina, where he had lived in recent years, according to his wife Jennifer. His official Facebook page also confirmed the news.

New Jack, who previously performed with ECW at Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham, earned notoriety as a “hardcore” performer thanks to taking risky “bumps” by performing high-risk maneuvers that put his and his opponents’ bodies at risk for fans’ entertainment.

Fellow legendary wrestlers like Mick Foley have expressed condolences via social media, praising his legacy as an in-ring performer.

“RIP NEW JACK,” Foley tweeted. “Such an intense performer and a riveting interview. He made it very easy to believe.”

Top wrestling companies like World Wrestling Entertainment, All Elite Wrestling and Impact Wrestling also tweeted about his passing.

“WWE is saddened to learn that Jerome Young, known in ECW as New Jack, passed away today at the age of 58,” WWE tweeted. “WWE extends its condolences to Young’s family and friends.”

Born in North Carolina, New Jack emerged as a fixture in ECW, also performing in territories like United States Wrestling Association, North Georgia Wrestling Alliance, Smoky Mountain Wrestling, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and others on the independent circuit.

His entrance music, “Natural Born Killaz” by Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, was also popular with fans.

New Jack performed at ECW’s “Guilty as Charged” pay-per-view event at Boutwell Auditorium in 2000, when he lost a singles match against Angel (with DeVito and Vic Grimes).

Vice TV’s “Dark Side of the Ring” documentary series (currently in its third season) taking a look at some of pro wrestling’s more controversial and polarizing moments and figures spotlighted New Jack’s career and personal life (in and out of the ring) in the third episode of its second season, titled “The Life and Crimes of New Jack.”

“One of the most feared and controversial wrestler’s of all time, New Jack’s career reads like a criminal rap-sheet,” Vice TV’s episode promo reads. “Revealing the man behind the monster and his harcdore legacy.”

The series’ mission: “Finding truth at the intersection of fantasy and reality in the veiled world of professional wrestling.”

Watch the trailer for Vice’s episode on New Jack below:

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.