Necro Butcher signs a WWE Legends deal

[GlassKnight89]

Deathmatch veteran Necro Butcher, 53, has signed a WWE Legends deal, sometimes called a Nostalgia deal, POST Wrestling reports. These deals pay a wrestler for the use of their name and likeness on merchandise and in other products. He announced it on Facebook, writing: "I have signed a basic legends deal with the WWE." Because he has never wrestled for WWE, plenty of people doubted the news at first

PWInsider then reported that WWE sources called it "100% accurate", and said WWE executive Nick Khan led the deal, as he did WWE's earlier agreement with the estate of New Jack. Necro Butcher said the offer came in the day after he walked out of his job. He said several projects have been discussed but "I'm taking things slow," and stressed: "I will NOT miss my scheduled shows"

He has wrestled since 1998 for promotions including ROH, IWA Mid-South, CZW, Big Japan and FREEDOMS. He also appeared in the 2008 film The Wrestler alongside Mickey Rourke, and became known for matches that pushed the limits of what wrestlers will put themselves through. A recent Dark Side of the Ring episode covered his famous 2005 match with Samoa Joe

Necro said he hoped "this leads to more opportunities for guys who never got that call to the big time." WWE signing legends deals with independent icons is a notable shift. It suggests the company is interested in the wider history of wrestling, not just its own. For fans of the hardcore scene, seeing Necro Butcher recognised in any form is a nice moment

Should WWE recognise more independent legends? And what would you want a Necro Butcher project to look like?

Report: Necro Butcher signs WWE Legends deal - POST Wrestling | Podcasts, News, Reviews | WWE AEW NXT NJPWwww.postwrestling.com

[Sequence]

His match with Samoa Joe in 2005 is one of the most brutal things I have ever watched. Joe was relentless and Necro just kept coming back

Unforgettable. Dark Side of the Ring did a great job telling the story behind it