AEW and the Wrestling World Mourn the Passing of Sabu

 

AEW and the Wrestling World Mourn the Passing of Sabu

Terry "Sabu" Brunk, an international legend in hardcore wrestling, died at 60. His legacy was defined by his brave performances, barbed wire fights, and steadfast commitment to the sport he loved.

"From violent wire battles to memorable high-risk moments, Sabu gave everything to professional wrestling," All Elite Wrestling (AEW) wrote on Sunday, confirming the sad news. We are thinking of his fans, friends, and family. The passing of the legendary performer, who impacted the hardcore wrestling culture for more than thirty years, was acknowledged by WWE as well.

A Final Match That Stayed True to His Legacy

Only a few weeks have passed since Sabu's retirement match during the Las Vegas WrestleMania weekend. A career focused on great risks and memorable incidents came to a fitting conclusion when he fought Joey Janela at Joey Janela's Spring Break 9.

"It was an honor and a pleasure to work with Sabu one last time and to be able to give him the sendoff he deserved," GCW owner Brett Lauderdale, who promoted the bout, told ESPN. His profession and life are worthy of celebration. He was completely true to Sabu in his final match. His legacy will endure for many decades to come, and he is and was a legend.

From ECW to WWE: A Career of Hardcore Greatness

Sabu made his wrestling debut in the 1990s and became renowned in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) after being trained by his famous uncle, Ed "The Sheik" Farhat. He gained fame there for his daring strategies, including flinging himself through tables, getting caught in barbed wire, and taking unfathomable chances both within and outside the ring.

In addition to being the ECW Television Champion, Sabu was the ECW World Heavyweight Champion thrice and the ECW World Tag Team Champion. His famous conflicts with Taz and Rob Van Dam, two other hardcore icons, continue to be considered as some of the most intense in ECW history.

 

Outside of ECW, Sabu displayed his vicious and aerial mix style in companies like TNA, WCW, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and eventually WWE. He competed in the ECW Originals at WrestleMania 23 in 2007 and beat The New Generation in a tag match.

While he was dismissed from WWE soon after WrestleMania, Sabu continued to be active in the underground scene and eventually in AEW in 2023 as a special enforcer in a match between Adam Cole and Chris Jericho.

A Legacy That Will Never Fade

Although Sabu's cause of death is unidentified, there is no doubt about his impact on professional wrestling. Not only was he a performer, but he was also the founder of the hardcore style, pushing younger generations of wrestlers to push boundaries and use their bodies to express stories in the most horrific ways imaginable.

Sabu's name will always be linked to strong wrestling, imagination, and perseverance. The incredible love he showed his peers, fans, and promotions globally is a tribute to the great admiration and regard he earned throughout his remarkable career.

May his legacy inspire others as well, and may he rest in peace.