Updated: May 14 2021, 23:21 ET
WRESTLING legend Jerome Young, nicknamed New Jack, passed away on Friday afternoon, according to his wife. His wife Jennifer Young told PW Insider.com that he passed away in North Carolina where he lived in the recent years.
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New Jack wrestled for Smoky Mountain Wrestling and Total Nonstop ActionCredit: Facebook
Young who died at age 58 was a multiple-time team champion when he took part in Extreme Championship Wrestling in 1995.
His title New Jack was inspired by the film New Jack City and fans were chanting it during his wrestling matches in the ring.
Throughout his career, Young was injured numerous times due to his behavior and style that included busting through tables and using weapons in the ring, according to TMZ Sports.
New Jack one of the more memorable figures in pro wrestling and the focus of an episode of Dark Side of The Ring passed away Friday at the age of 58 due to a heart attack.
PW Insider was the first to report the news via his wife, Jennifer. He was living in North Carolina at the time of his death.
Born Jerome Young in Greensboro, North Carolina, New Jack rose to prominence as one half of The Gangstas with Mustafa Saed. After a one-year run in Smokey Mountain Wrestling, he and Saed found themselves in ECW where they fit right in with the hardcore style and attitude of the promotion. He and Saed won their Tag Team titles two times and he also held them one time with John Kronus of The Eliminators.
By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
Jerome Young, who wrestled as New Jack, died at age 58 on Friday. Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com reports that Young’s death was caused by a heart attack.
Powell’s POV: New Jack’s work in The Gangstas with tag partner Mustafa Saed in Smoky Mountain Wrestling was controversial to say the least, but he showed real talent on promos. The duo went on to have success in ECW, where Jack also had a memorable run as a singles wrestler. Jack struck me as one of the most fearless wrestlers in the business and my condolences go out to his family, friends, and fans.
By Mike Johnson on 2021-05-14 19:14:00
PWInsider.com is extremely sad to report that Jerome “New Jack” Young passed away earlier this afternoon following a heart attack in North Carolina, where he had lived in recent years. PWInsider.com was informed by Young’s wife Jennifer of his passing. Young was 58 at the time of his passing.
At times, Young was one of the most controversial wrestlers in professional wrestling, but he was also one of the more intense and charismatic performers over the last several decades. The New Jack name was inspired by the film New Jack City once Young imagined fans chanting it while he was in the ring, a vision that certainly came true countless times over.