Dave Meltzer on New Jack's complicated career: Wrestling Observer Radio

[@RandyHughesrapidrandy]

Being all over the place is part of what makes Dave Dave. With age, I'm sure it's getting worse just like anybody else's quirks. I find it entertaining and feel thankful he's still around and kicking after so many losses over the last several years.

[@DillAvery]

I would imagine that when Bryan hands it over to Dave for a rant like this, Bryan gets up, stretches, makes a sandwich, he knows he has a good 10 minutes of free time.

[@pearll1073]

New Jack was over in ECW because it was Philly and he was real. His promos resonated with the Philly audience. When he talked about needing to win the tag titles to get his family out of the neighborhood. He became a folk hero for wrestling fans in Philly. We understood what he meant. Let's not forget about his ability to choreograph a match to a song night in and night out. People will always remember that.

[@WilliamBlack2KW]

They definitely just played the music and did their match. Almost impossible to plan spots around music

[@bulletclub4life]

@@WilliamBlack2KW that was the greatest thing Ive ever seen... you play your music as you beat someone ass....LOL

[@jordanfrost25]

Paul Heyman's tribute to New Jack on Talking Smack is really worth a watch

[@jamesgaine1985]

Actually brought some tears to my eyes. He will definitely be missed, one of a kind. They just don't make them like this anymore!

[@gator8509]

Jack didn’t even like him

[@216Eva]

fuck paul heyman... that something New Jack would say from the grave

[@KingDIEAHBEATUS]

@@216Eva exactly. There is a 12 minute video of New Jack saying Paul is a peice of shit for stiffing him and the boys in ECW.

[@starbreaker269]

@Lucien Hicks yet new jack buried Paul in a shoot interview. They may have patched things up but who knows

[@jessebennett4221]

Met New Jack once he was really chill and nice.

[@shanestephens4728]

You must have treated him very respectfully. I’m glad you have a memory of such a positive interaction. 🤙🏼

[@youcantalwaysgetwhatyouwan8419]

Listening to Meltzer try to stay on track for several minutes has turned my brain into pudding. My god. Seriously Dave.

[@TheBC313]

I wish Bryan would interject with thoughts of his own. He just sits there in silence while Dave talks to himself. I dont know if its a respect thing but he's hardly Dave's young boy anymore. Talk Bryan!

[@xx_theartfuldodger_xx1105]

Ahh well uh...you know...whatever

[@davemcg2344]

I love Dave Meltzer but has he ever mentioned having something like ADHD?

[@ArcanaEric]

@@TheBC313 Bryan’s on like 3 other shows other than this one, I think he enjoys just getting a bit of a break and letting Dave talk.

[@TheBC313]

@@ArcanaEric good point. You're probably right :)

[@huffmanelitetraining]

I lived, breathed, slept, ate, and dreamed about ECW in the late 90s and early 2000s. New Jack was one of my all time favorites along with Mick Foley, Tommy Dreamer, Terry Funk, Sabu, the Dudley Boys, Balls and AXL, RVD, Sandman, and more. The thing they all had in common was passion, heart, and intensity. They were all characters or performers that would ellicit strong emotions during their promos and matches. I got to see New Jack perform live in Tallahassee Florida and was lucky enough to be sitting right by the entrance where wrestlers walked out. Before the show I saw New Jack peeking through the black curtain hanging down in the entrance. I was with my family and showed them New Jack was right there maybe 10-12 feet away. I started yelling New Jack New Jack!!! could you sign this?? I held out a piece of paper of some kind and he motioned to pass it to the security guard. He handed it to New Jack through the curtain and he signed it and passed it back. I remember yelling thanks man and couldn't believe how cool that gesture was coming from such a hardcore performer. Not to get racially charged about it but as a white teenager I found it cool that New Jack didn't just say fuck you white boy or something to stay in character. I took that piece of paper and slid it into my "Best of New Jack" vhs tape where it has remained until this day. I truly love watching New Jack matches and enjoy the roller coaster of emotions his shoot interviews will take you on. From laughter to sadness to shock and cringing at the insanity or disturbing scenes of some of his acts in matches. New Jack made you feel the realness and absolute authenticity to his character. RIP New Jack and thanks for the memories!!!

[@originalsleepyjon]

That's incredible

[@toniklocc]

Dave’s train of thought is wild. He’s not finishing them

[@jhazemeyer7195]

Brian knows to just stand back and let dave happen.

[@JRAYDABEAST]

You call that a train a thought

[@timdurgan]

I appreciate how knowledgeable he is but he is unlistenable most of the time. It's like a 2 year old trying to unsuccessfully form a sentence. After so many years of broadcasting, you'd think someone will have sat him down and taught him how to communicate more effectively

[@huffmanelitetraining]

@@timdurgan yes he is painful to listen to but somehow that draws you in like passing a horrible accident on the highway. it's like oh shit this is awful..... where is my camera phone..... wow this is crazy!!! Dave is so unique but not in a fun way. just awkward curiosity to listen to him rant. I love Jim Cornette and his takes on Dave are hilarious

[@gfear24]

@@JRAYDABEAST I'd call it a trainwreck of though.

[@troysmall2677]

The issue with diving off balconys on to tables is it hurts really really bad. Thanks dave

[@iamjeffreyalansmith]

Grade A reporting from Meltzer as per usual.

[@85futureshock]

People will remember him for Vic Grimes and Mass Transit but his Smoky Mountain and ECW work is underrated. Not in the way of great wrestling but character work and promos. Particularly, the promo where he talks about needing to win the tag titles in order to get his family out of his old neighborhood. Its one of the most chilling, emotional and greatest promos in wrestling history. A masterpiece in how to turn from a heel into a loved babyface.

[@graemenicol6377]

New Jack gets to much stick for the mass transit thing if anybody is to blame for what happened it's the kids dad if he'd of told the truth about his son age and the fact he wasn't trained it wouldn't of happened.

[@andros1486]

@@graemenicol6377 that does not magically excuse what New Jack did hahaha, every faction is to blame for what happened there and I would not fault anyone for disliking New Jack for all that shit to be honest

[@graemenicol6377]

@@andros1486 Answer me a if Paul E had of known he was 17 without any Wrestling training would he of been allowed to take part in that match I'd say no so you can't blame New Jack or ECW for what happened it's the kids dad who lied so in my book he's solely responsible for what happened.

[@TheTruth-mv7hm]

@@graemenicol6377 what about when he beat a 70 year old man with a bat. Or how about stabbing a man 9 times. This man was a peice of shit and that's all he should be remembered for

[@eastwaters4082]

Would you excuse Chris Benoit's life actions to honor his professional wrestling career?

[@mitchellalexander9162]

What would be the End of the New Jack Movie? "I'm sitting in a Wheelchair snortin Coke gettin High as a mofo and then it'll be like *The End.* Thank You Bitches!" -New Jack (1963 - 2021 ) R.I.P.

[@gqn2]

Why can’t we be friends? - New Jack

[@paulflewitt5599]

If New Jack could've tempered his character, he could easily have been brought into WWF as a member of Farooq's Nation. It would've been a watered down version of the SMW angle, and he could've been good as the badass, extreme militant. The problem is that New Jack was a street guy, and it was a bigger part of him than anything else. He didn't give a shit, and he' s one of very few people that actually meant it when he said that. A flawed character, but definitely one of THE characters in the wrestling industry. Legit one of the best promo guys in the business. RIP New Jack.

[@djrc408]

Listening to Dave is exhausting

[@glenncanning8189]

And yet, here you are doing it

[@iamjeffreyalansmith]

10:00 "Died is, like, such a- such a... sad thing."

[@artvandelayRFC]

Uh, yeah...no. maybe. Hmmmm New Jack, Cornette, yeah um. No!

[@ofs82]

New Jack is the ultimate modern embodiment of the Terry Funk adage about making people believe YOU'RE real, even if they don't believe wrestling is real. He did more for kayfabe than anybody else in the last 25 years. His character was the Sheik or Abdullah the Butcher updated for an urban generation, and people legit believed New Jack was who he purported to be in a way nobody else has matched in a generation. The business is different now, but for a long time that side of things was as important as the in-ring work.

[@DreamWeave288]

The reason people "believed" that is because New Jack was never playing a character. He was in real life the individual you saw on screen.

[@erikstorm8935]

@@DreamWeave288 In SMW he was playing a character to an extent. He made it looked like he "hated whitey" and was some black militant. In real life he actually had a lot of white friends, especially in the business. Hell, it seems like he talked more shit about fellow black wrestlers than white ones lol. D-Von, Ron Simmons, Abdullah the Butcher, etc.

[@DreamWeave288]

@@erikstorm8935 I'm not talking about that shit you moron. I'm talking about all the evil shit he did like stabbing people and killing people because he wasn't careful enough.

[@kshinokevin]

Yes !!!

[@MizTheDonGargon]

@@DreamWeave288 he didn't kill nobody my dude...

[@garylalli6812]

I met New Jack and Fonzy in Detroit before a show. I sat down bought him a drink. We talked, and he was a great talker but also a great listener. Goodbye New Jack (Jerome) you will be missed.

[@X_Blake]

Even though he was a very messed up complex individual in the ring. I’m pretty sure he had some goodness outside of it. If he didn’t not a lot of notable folks like X-Pac, Foley, or Storm wouldn’t have said anything positive. So RIP.

[@erikstorm8935]

I wish more would have. He clearly had a lot of friends in the biz. I understand if someone DIDN'T wanna be his friend. But, if you were, then dont be afraid to admit you were friends and that he meant something to you. Thats what friends do. Although certainly some may have their reasons for not posting anything (such as not using social media regularly, or being too emotional to say anything).

[@X_Blake]

@@erikstorm8935 I agree.

[@TophDaGreat]

Journey with me Into the mind of a maniac Doomed to be a killer Since i came out the nutsac! OG's remember. When you heard that gunshot of Natural Born Killaz, you knew shit was about to go down. RIP

[@cathoderaymission5545]

In this thread : 1. Tributes to New Jack 2. What the fuck, Dave?

[@RandyHughesrapidrandy]

New Jack could've been top of the card in WWE or WCW if he could've been harnessed as Dave said. A tad bit more in-ring talent and a lot less unpredictability would have gone a long way. I can only imagine how cool it would've been with New Jack vs Austin, Rock, Hogan, Flair, Michaels in an alternate universe. We did get him vs the Undertaker though and that promo is very worth your time to look up.

[@MrQuinn-tc3uo]

Alright, im tapping at 6 minutes...jezus dave.

[@emmeyhi]

So hard to listen to. I've never known a man to argue with his own point before he makes it

[@TheSaxon.]

Lets face it, New Jack was a scumbag. You can list terrible deed after terrible deed but lets all hate Warrior instead, who was guilty of being an unpleasant man, at times.

[@kyledamron]

I get why Dave is saying the injuries leading to self medication but new jack made no secret he loved cocaine and that takes its toll on your heart. RIP new jack rest easy

[@CarolinaBlood704]

I wonder what Bryan thinks when Dave rambles? I love Dave, but bro...

[@fizzyfuzz5878]

He probably took a shower during this. Maybe got some groceries.

[@SecretGerms]

you love dave... ? congratulations, you’re in a club of only one.

[@Lelly28]

Shiiit I wondered that too....

[@brettrossi034]

You can't deny his knowledge and recollection

[@user-pc9jq5qe9i]

he’s THE wrestling historian dude what’s bryan gonna really interject in this one

[@ccfunk1]

He was so cool when i met him in Detroit. RIP Jerome New Jack Young.

[@jonpower9728]

Being in wrestling will only result in shame or pain, or both.

[@Zololololololotted]

RIP New Jack

[@stevemygoodman7809]

He did to someone what the inner circle pretended to do to MJf and drove a fork/shiv in dudes skull. All because according to Jack, he added his input into the direction of the match. It’s a good thing Jack never said something mean on Twitter because he would never be forgiven for that 🤣

[@constablekennedy7705]

RIP New Jack ...... 🙏🏿

[@alleneng]

he legit tried to murder someone during a match on more than 1 occasion

[@SYMShutYoMouth]

Why are you clowns acting like the people of this industry are squeaky clean? Dark Side of the Ring literally exists. Nobody is perfect. But New Jack was a master at his work. One of the best promos in the history of wrestling. Everyone exists in a shade of gray. Respect that. Respect him. I bet you’re not perfect neither. But nobody monitors you under a microscope. Shut up and pay respect. If not, then why are you here?

[@cubeclutch4781]

i know awesome huh?

[@nicholasbrown4109]

@@SYMShutYoMouth "nobody is perfect" as a way to deflect from attempted murders, nice try dude

[@starbreaker269]

@@nicholasbrown4109 how is this any different from what nick gage does? Fans love nick gage and didnt he literally almost die?

[@geno7572]

@@nicholasbrown4109 Lol dont blame just new jack. Yall gotta bring the same energy to the wrestling promotions that kept booking him. Knowing that he was a dangerous wrestler.

[@woady_one]

Uncle Dave really is a Yoda character

[@kyledamron]

I love new jack for his promo and character work but I'm not big into death matches and a bunch of crazy bumps. I want wrestlers to live longer

[@VYLEMUSIC]

Dave just said like the same 3 things over and over for 18 minutes straight lmfao

[@NintendoPsycho]

Uncle Dave needs his meds

[@ImportAustralia]

To me there's nothing respectable about taking liberties with your opponents to an illegal or lethal extent the way New Jack would do, to the point where it almost got him (justifiably so) in legal hot water multiple times across the years. A victim of his offered to drop the charges against New Jack if he shot an angle with him, and New Jack took the deal and never spoke to him again, and I think that tells you everything you need to know about his character. Wrestling has evolved beyond the point where New Jack's actions would be acceptable in ANY promotion, and that's a good thing. People like Shad Gaspard, who proved beyond a shadow of a doubt he was an incredible human being in his last moments deserve to be honored and remembered. I don't want to say New Jack should be forgotten because his unsavory actions are great demonstrations of how modern pro wrestlers should not conduct themselves, but the man was a sack of garbage who should be moved on from and serve as an example.

[@MdlAgedHeadbanger]

I watched the A&E Biography on Roddy Piper and they touched on the final interview Roddy gave where he rambled incoherently, couldn't finish a thought and had trouble making a point. That's what Meltzer sounds like.

[@Aalienik]

He's been like that for as long as I can remember

[@TheBC313]

Does anyone know what happened to Vic Grimes? What's he up to nowadays?

[@Cobralalalala]

There's a shoot on KZbin from February you might want to check out. There's not much information out there though.

[@TheBC313]

@@Cobralalalala Thanks man

[@glenncanning8189]

New Jack was far from a perfect human being, but all the people who say he was just a violent monster should at the very least watch the dark side of the ring episode about him. He briefly touches on his childhood, and to say that he came from a broken home would be quite the understatement. It doesn't excuse the more infamous things he did during his career, but it does explain some of it. No matter what, he holds a significant place in pro wrestling history. RIP, Jerome. Hope you find the happiness & peace in death that seemed to so often elude you in life.

[@DreamWeave288]

You're a sick creature for hoping the violent monster finds happiness.

[@glenncanning8189]

@@DreamWeave288 can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not, so I’ll make my response simply: mashed potatoes.

[@ArcanaEric]

What does his childhood matter? The man tried to literally murder people.

[@DreamWeave288]

@@glenncanning8189 Articulated like a true New Jack fan.

[@gunnerblade]

Cool motive Still (attempted) murder

[@OscillatorCollective]

...damn...I love LOVE NEW JACK...... 🔪🩸🔪 ....😭💜🤦‍♀️💔

[@nobodyexceptme7794]

Jesus Christ listening to this Meltzer guy for longer than 3 minutes is a chore. Clearly didn't know the man.

[@MyChannel-ol1zz]

This was fine to listen to.

[@JRAYDABEAST]

Pual heymen does a perfect 3 minute eulogy Dave like hold my beer

[@Brando-Lee3725]

Him NOT going to WWE dont mean shit . You cant put a dollar amount on a LEGACY ! . And he made one HUGE !!! To me ? He is the final wrestler in the ilk of The Shiek , Brody , Abdullah , Sabu even to an extent. Who can you believe in wrestling right now more than Jack ??? If he was Kaybin ? He was the best of this gen !

[@irvincamacho6714]

It’s hard to listen to Dave now a days.

[@youngzeus87]

Gage is a bum who's never had a good feud or match. New Jack is different

[@allhell138]

Guy should’ve been arrested multiple times over for some of the shit be pulled in the ring. A self confessed coke head dying young isn’t a shocker either ...

[@michaelcharles0107]

Alvarez so wouldn’t watch Gage Darkside of the ring

[@eastwaters4082]

The amount of people overlooking his career trying to kill people in the ring are the same that will slander Chris Benoit's professional wrestling career.

[@micahjohnsonboxing6409]

You're comparing him to a child killer?

[@skepchica]

I love the way it was always he was "trying to kill people", that never spend a day in the hospital-- but his wife and children are still living so there's ZERO comparison. Benoit marks are worse than a 3 week old condom coated in gonorrhea.

[@SAM-ru4vx]

Go watch beyond the mat. You know new Jack was in it.

[@L91168]

Would be nice if Dave decided to finish sentences when he starts them 🤦‍♂️

[@keni95851]

Enter The Sandman, literally one of the most exposed rock songs ever and he cant get the title right

[@Danielson1818]

"Exposed rock song"? It wasn't ever supposed to be a secret, homie. Sorry, but I had to pick on you for that one, because wrestling lingo doesn't apply to everything. SIDE NOTE: It really is overplayed. The only rivals in my head are "Stairway to Heaven", and "Smells Like Teen Spirit".

[@keni95851]

@@Danielson1818 I chose the word expose as opposed to overplayed because some people don't think it's overplayed. You cannot deny the fact that it was everywhere too much.

[@garyofox]

New Jack was the first Stone Cold...

[@MultiHash420]

Uhh yeah and sure of course that was always a possibility anything can happen plans change umm sure here its complicated I heard from so and so but maybe it's true these are all the possibilities yea yea for sure oh totally definitely 6⭐ in the Tokyo dome

[@HANGRYJIMLODLIFEALWAYSLOD]

Good lord does meltzer get paid by the syllable? Spit it out man...

[@damedoop]

Can this dude get a complete sentence out? 🤦🏿‍♂️

[@TreasureTrain]

okay dude im new to F4, i swear to god i see the names dave sempervive and dave meltzer on videos constantly and they always sound like the same exact guy, what the fuck is the deal here

[@Berzerk29]

It's Mike Sempervive and Dave Meltzer.

[@Vesperitis]

Dave Meltzer is the straight up journalist and one of the owners of F4 (he's the guy talking here), Mike Sempervive is one of Bryan Alvarez's (the other owner of F4) co-hosts. Dave only does the voice podcast and tends to be very dry and rambly but current and informative, while Mike is Bryan's snarky frenemy who mostly gives opinions.

[@brandoncoit9295]

Dave is stumbling when talking so badly between him saying"and, you know, I wish I had Dave Chappelle's wrap it up box!

[@eastwaters4082]

😂😂😂 Damn crazy I understood that reference.

[@woady_one]

What??

[@teebird6952]

MAKE A GODDAMN POINT DAVE! Jesus Christ 🤦

[@Dirik619]

you know you know you know

[@user-nc1wu2nm3i]

Everyone giving Jericho shit for using a crash pad. Well yeah, he doesn't want to die at 58.

[@diabeetus_9837]

I don’t think anyone cares that it was a crash pad. It’s more that the camera angles and “disguising” of the crash pad was so hilariously amateur looking.

[@Charsi_Escobar]

@@diabeetus_9837 exactly. If you’re gonna Do it, at least make it look good.

[@woady_one]

Don't do the spot then

[@solame4983]

Meltzer tried to save the career of someone who harassed the Huber’s, he needs to be removed from this show.

[@kendaumen3298]

6 mins in and i stop listening......meltzer gives me a headache

[@espurrthestupididiot2405]

Not gonna address the situation about Dave interviewing the reporter who kept harassing AEW and Jon Huber's wife that he actually died of COVID and that they're covering it up, huh?

[@danny_milk]

right before this clip, Dave made on of those “im sorry that you’re offended” apologies preceded by a condescending “Heh” and still not even understanding WHY people were upset

[@erikstorm8935]

As long as its a real interview where he asks tough questions, then whats the problem? Its his job to interview people, good or bad (like its the regular media's job to interview people good or bad. Saintly figures and loathesome figures alike). I understand WHY people dont want that "reporter" to be given attention, but it's still Dave's job to interview and people should respect that. Ignoring people who are terrible is a relatively new thing in the media, actually. But, thats not how it historically is or should be. So, to me, no problem if there's a hardball interview.

[@DeeperWithDiego]

Literally 15 minutes of nothing being said. Good job, Dave.

[@HANGRYJIMLODLIFEALWAYSLOD]

Not that complicated...good promo,nothing without the gimmick.

[@SecretGerms]

17 minutes of dave blathering... no thanks. 👋🏻

[@MyChannel-ol1zz]

Hope you’re aware you can leave

[@SecretGerms]

@@MyChannel-ol1zz that’s what the hand waving ‘goodbye’ meant, genius.

[@MyChannel-ol1zz]

@@SecretGerms Yet, you stayed and are still here, kid

[@iamjeffreyalansmith]

Calm down, laides, you're both pretty enough for the prom.

[@MyChannel-ol1zz]

@@iamjeffreyalansmith Nah, tell her that

[@juliooquendo220]

RIP NEW JACK

[@lrm215]

RIP New Jack