Necro Butcher says he has signed a WWE Legends deal, despite never having worked for the company.
The deathmatch veteran, whose real name is Dylan Summers, made the announcement on Facebook on Tuesday.
“I have signed a basic legends deal with the WWE. The offer actually came in the day after I walked out of my job. The timing was ridiculous. Now, the door is open for various projects, which have already been discussed. But I’m taking things slow. What does this say about my career? A man who never worked there. But he worked hard everywhere he went. And still will. I will NOT miss my scheduled shows and most definitely will NOT be making any apology videos or speeches. I’ve worked hard, both for myself and for my fans. Nothing was more important to me than credibility and believability. I hope this leads to more opportunities for guys who never got that call to the big time. This is OUR reward. Let’s enjoy this together.”
He did not say what job he had left or what projects have been discussed.
PWInsider reported that the deal is believed to have been spearheaded by WWE President Nick Khan, who was previously key in working out a deal with New Jack’s estate. Khan told a Senate committee in April that WWE has more than 100 legends deals, which pay retired wrestlers for their use in video games, trading cards, merchandise and action figures.
New Jack, who died in 2021, was added to WWE 2K25 as downloadable content in July 2025, and Khan reportedly pushed for his inclusion. Mattel also has a New Jack figure in its 2026 Defining Moments line, sold as a Ringside Collectibles exclusive.
Summers was New Jack’s opponent in his retirement match, on the second night of Pro Wrestling Syndicate’s Super Card in April 2013.
Necro Butcher’s Career
Summers, 53, from Pine Grove, West Virginia, made his name in deathmatch wrestling. He won IWA Mid-South’s King of the Deathmatch in 2002 and CZW’s Tournament of Death IV in 2005, becoming the first wrestler to win both. He worked for Ring of Honor from 2006 to 2010, including a run in The Age of the Fall alongside Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black, now WWE’s Seth Rollins. He also appeared in the 2008 film The Wrestler.
He retired in 2016 and has returned several times since. His most recent match was a hardcore match against Dean Mercer on September 27.
