Paul Heyman Reflects on New Jack’s Legacy in WWE 2K26 and ECW’s Impact

ECW, the Philadelphia-based promotion, stood apart in professional wrestling for its raw authenticity. During the Monday Night Wars, alongside WWE and WCW, ECW was the disruptive force, a catalyst for change in an industry often perceived as stagnant. While WWE 2K26’s Monday Night Wars Edition primarily focuses on the WWE/WCW rivalry, the game features enough ECW Originals – notably New Jack – to build your own ECW faction.

In an exclusive interview with TheSportster, WWE Hall of Famer and former ECW owner Paul Heyman discussed New Jack’s inclusion in WWE 2K26. Heyman emphasized that there was, and will never be, anyone quite like New Jack. Violent, outrageous, and undeniably tough, New Jack carved a bloody path through ECW, earning a reputation as both a feared and admired competitor.

New Jack: A One-of-a-Kind Performer

For years, New Jack’s violent edge and persona meant he was often overlooked in ECW’s history. That began to change with his debut in WWE 2K25 last year, and continues with his return in WWE 2K26, complete with his signature trash can and endlessly looping entrance music. Paul Heyman believes New Jack would be thrilled to be featured in the game.

“I think New Jack would have been so happy, and then he would have gone out and randomly stabbed a bunch of people just because that’s what New Jack would do, because he’s a gangster,” Heyman quipped. He further explained that the game’s portrayal of New Jack is “magnificent” because it’s so authentic to the man and performer.

Heyman highlighted New Jack’s genuineness in an industry often built on characters. “New Jack was exactly what he portrayed himself to be on television,” he stated, drawing a parallel to Roman Reigns, whom he described as embodying the “Tribal Chief” persona in reality. “With New Jack, we sometimes had to bring it down a little because the violent truth of that man sometimes could not be told.”

The Impact of ECW and New Jack

New Jack’s matches were notorious for their chaotic energy, often descending into brutal confrontations accompanied by the relentless beat of Dr. Dre and Ice Cube’s “Natural Born Killas.” A three-time ECW Tag Team Champion, New Jack’s career was largely absent from WWE programming after ECW’s closure in 2001, due to the level of violence associated with his persona.

New Jack tragically passed away in 2021, and Paul Heyman’s emotional tribute on Talking Smack marked the first official acknowledgment of New Jack on WWE programming. Acknowledging the challenges of showcasing New Jack’s full repertoire, Heyman stated, “we can’t show you a lot of footage of New Jack because he was THE most non-PG performer in sports-entertainment history.”

New Jack’s inclusion in the WWE 2K series, starting with WWE 2K25 at the behest of WWE President Nick Khan, and continuing with WWE 2K26, signifies a growing recognition of his contributions. A New Jack action figure is also slated for release by Mattel in 2026.

With New Jack now alongside fellow ECW icons like Bam Bam Bigelow, The Sandman, and Rob Van Dam in WWE 2K26, fans can recreate the intensity of the Monday Night Wars era. New Jack’s legacy as one of the most feared and authentic competitors in wrestling history continues to resonate.

Read our full review of WWE 2K26 here.