Sabu, legend of professional wrestling’s ‘hardcore’ type, dies at 60
Sabu, a “hardcore” skilled wresting legend whose actual title was Terry Brunk, has died at 60 years outdated, World Wrestling Leisure introduced Sunday.
“WWE is saddened to be taught that Terry Brunk, identified to wrestling followers as Sabu, has handed away,” the corporate mentioned in a press release.
All Elite Wrestling additionally introduced the information in a publish on social media.
“From barbed wire battles to unforgettable high-risk moments, Sabu gave every little thing to skilled wrestling,” AEW wrote on X. “Our ideas are along with his household, his buddies and his followers.”
Sabu’s reason for loss of life was not launched Sunday, and it was not clear when he died.
Sabu rose to fame whereas wrestling for Excessive Championship Wrestling within the Nineteen Nineties, the place he was “a pioneer of hardcore wrestling, leaping from chairs and driving his opponents by tables and even barbed wire,” taking after his uncle, Corridor of Famer Ed “The Sheik” Farhat, WWE wrote.
As part of ECW, Sabu wrestled contemporaries like Rob Van Dam, Mick Foley and Taz. In an organization identified for pushing the envelope when it comes to the dangers wrestlers had been prepared to take, Sabu nonetheless managed to face out.
Whether or not he was leaping off the ring ropes to his opponents on the skin or delivering double leg-drops by tables and ladders, his type of wrestling — not all the time fairly however definitely spectacular and attention-grabbing — made him a fan favourite.
He signed with WWE as a part of the corporate’s revival of the ECW model in 2006. The following 12 months, at WrestleMania 23, he and fellow ECW originals Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman defeated the New Breed in entrance of 80,000 followers in Detroit. He departed the corporate that very same 12 months.
Each earlier than and after WWE, Sabu wrestled for high promotions throughout the globe, together with New Japan Professional-Wrestling, AAA and CMLL, in addition to dozens of different unbiased promotions.
He continued wrestling lengthy after lots of his contemporaries had already retired. His ultimate match — and first since 2021, based on Cage Match — was April 18, when he defeated Joey Janela, getting pushed by a desk and touchdown on barbed wire within the course of.
Janela referred to as Sabu “my idol, a trailblazer, a gamechanger and an icon,” in a memorial publish on X that featured photographs and movies of he and Sabu.
Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer referred to as Sabu the “king of the loss of life matches” on Wrestling Observer Radio on Sunday, and credited him with popularizing hardcore wrestling within the U.S.
“He was the godfather of it in each method,” Meltzer mentioned.
Huge names from throughout the wrestling world took to social media to recollect Sabu as a legend within the area and as a pal.
In a video posted to X, Taz mentioned Sabu’s loss of life “breaks my coronary heart,” and added that he had watched an outdated interview of Sabu’s as not too long ago as Saturday night time.
“I’d not have had the profession that I’ve had and I have been blessed to have if it wasn’t for Sabu,” Taz mentioned, noting the pair debuted towards one another for ECW in 1993.
The X account for docu-series “Darkish Facet of the Ring” mentioned Sabu’s loss of life “comes as a shock,” as he’s featured within the episode airing Tuesday that pays tribute to his uncle.
“Sabu was a trailblazing groundbreaker who performed a serious position within the growth of what a professional wrestling match could possibly be,” wrestler Matt Hardy mentioned on X. “The truth that tables are generally utilized in professional wrestling is due to Terry Brunk & how he made an inanimate object like a desk a should see element in his match.”
Hardy additionally referred to as Sabu “closely influential on in the present day’s present type, regardless that his contributions are nonetheless underneath appreciated by most.”
In an X publish, AEW wrestler Mark Briscoe mentioned, “No one made me wish to be a wrestler greater than Sabu. R.I.P. to a real hardcore legend.”
