New Jack - New Jack

New Jack probably doesnt remember either of the two times weve met.

When I was just starting out in wrestling, at any show, I always made it a tradition to introduce myself to everybody. I went down to a Smoky Mountain Wrestling show when I was training with Al Snow, and in Smoky Mountain they were still old school: they had the babyface locker room and the heel locker room, and the twain didnt meet, not until everyone was far from the arena!

I went to the heel locker room and met Jack. He was nice, but you could tell he was guarded. I was this new kid, in his locker room. But he was cool. I made sure not to say too much and got out fast.

In Smoky Mountain, less was more. Youd see the Gangstas working as heels, but you could tell they were having fun; I saw a tag match where the Gangstas faced Boo Bradley (later to wind up as Balls Mahoney in ECW) and Boo would do a dance. Id see them trying not to laugh. Its one reason why so many people had a lot of respect for New Jack long before he went to ECW.

He was in ECW before I showed up there, and I didnt think hed remember me. He didnt, but I went right back up and introduced myself. I learned fast that he was a good dude. I was hoping he felt the same way about me; early on in my ECW career, I was in a tag match with Chad Austin and the Gangstas, and I found out I was right. Wait until you get to that chapter in this book!

After shows at the ECW Arena, things just turned into one big party between the wrestlers and our fans. People were around New Jack all the time; I remember once a fan came up to Jack and told him he wanted to be a wrestler. Jack gave him all kinds of advice on what to do, how to train, how to lose weight. It was something special to help someone who wanted to get into the wrestling business. I dont know if that guy ever did, but if so, I hope he gives New Jack some credit.

I worked with New Jack a lot, and I always felt safe. A lot of people looked at New Jack, and ECW wrestlers in general, as guys who like to shoot on each other. Thats the farthest thing from the truth. Jack always protected me, never forced anything. There were plenty of times when hed ask me if I wanted to do something. He was always OK with me saying no.

People know him as a controversial guy, and, yes, he says a lot of things to get a rise out of people. You put him with a microphone, and its like listening to a great preacher during a religious experience. But one-on-one, you get to know New Jack, and you get to know Jerome.

The persona, the persontheyre both pretty cool. After reading this book, I think youll feel the same about the two.

Brian The Blue Meanie Heffron

Brian Heffron, a.k.a. The Blue Meanie, became one of the most recognizable figures in the squared circle during his time with Extreme Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation (later World Wrestling Entertainment) in the 1990s and early 2000s