WWE, AEW, and Impact Wrestling have all issued statements on the passing of Jerome “New Jack” Young. As many of you know by now, New Jack suffered a heart attack on Friday in North Carolina and passed away at the age of 58.
WWE.com posted the following:
Jerome Young, known in ECW as New Jack, passes away
WWE is saddened to learn that Jerome Young, known in ECW as New Jack, passed away today at the age of 58.
With his fierce, competitive style, New Jack was well-known for pushing the limits of hardcore wrestling to their furthest extremes. Young broke into the sports-entertainment circuit with the Memphis-based United States Wrestling Association in 1992. Upon arrival in the Smoky Mountain Wrestling promotion, New Jack teamed to with Mustafa Saed to form The Gangstas tag team.
The Gangstas shook up ECW with their debut in 1995, immediately battling Public Enemy in one of the promotion’s most storied rivalries. New Jack teamed with Mustafa and Eliminator John Kronus for multiple ECW Tag Team Title reigns. With a trash can filled with makeshift weapons and his signature staple gun in tow, New Jack became one of ECW’s most popular antiheroes and a sports-entertainment firebrand who courted controversy and chaos with equal measure.
New Jack left a cultural imprint with the use of “Natural Born Killaz” by Ice Cube and Dr. Dre as his theme music that would play throughout matches. He was also mentioned in the Weezer single “El Scorcho” and appeared on the television shows “Early Edition” and “Daily Show.”
WWE extends its condolences to Young’s family and friends.
WWE is saddened to learn that Jerome Young, known in ECW as New Jack, passed away today at the age of 58.
WWE extends its condolences to Young’s family and friends. https://t.co/9ESCVALGDe
— WWE (@WWE) May 15, 2021
AEW and the wrestling world mourn the passing of ECW Legend “New Jack” Jerome Young. Our thoughts are with his family, his friends and his fans. pic.twitter.com/LMHYG0T6Mv
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 15, 2021
We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jerome "New Jack" Young. We offer our sincerest condolences to his friends and family. pic.twitter.com/5Qc0kO1hVx
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) May 14, 2021
