SABU

Hardcore Wrestling Legend Sabu Dies at 60. Terry Brunk, better known to wrestling fans around the world as Sabu, has died at the age of 60. The news was confirmed by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on Sunday, sending shockwaves through the wrestling community and beyond.

Sabu wasn’t just a wrestler. He was a phenomenon—an innovator of the “hardcore” style, a daredevil who treated barbed wire, steel chairs, and broken tables like they were just part of the scenery. His commitment to wrestling was legendary, and he carved out a legacy that changed the face of the business forever.

Born on December 12, 1964, in Staten Island, New York, Sabu was wrestling royalty from the very beginning. He was trained by his uncle, Ed Farhat, better known as The Sheik—one of the most notorious and influential brawlers in wrestling history. From the moment he stepped into the ring, Sabu was different. He didn’t talk. He didn’t need to. His body did the talking, and it often spoke volumes—sometimes through bruises, sometimes through blood, and always through jaw-dropping athleticism.

He made his name in the 1990s in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), where he became a cult icon. ECW wasn’t your typical wrestling promotion. It was raw, gritty, and violent, and Sabu was its perfect poster boy. Fans who packed into the ECW Arena in Philadelphia didn’t come to see headlocks and suplexes—they came to see chaos. And nobody delivered it better than Sabu.

He soared through the air with reckless abandon, often using a chair as a springboard for his signature Triple Jump Moonsault. He put his body on the line every night, performing moves that seemed physically impossible, and sometimes inadvisable. Whether it was crashing through tables wrapped in barbed wire or getting stitched up mid-match only to keep fighting, Sabu was all-in. Always.

Outside of ECW, Sabu’s career took him around the world. He wrestled in Japan’s brutal FMW promotion, Mexico’s AAA, and made stops in major American companies like WCW, TNA, and eventually WWE. In 2006, he joined WWE during its relaunch of the ECW brand. Though the environment was more controlled than what he was used to, Sabu still found ways to stand out. He even competed at WrestleMania 23, cementing his place in wrestling history.

Even as the years wore on and injuries piled up, Sabu never fully stepped away from the ring. He continued to wrestle on the independent scene, appearing in front of passionate crowds who still admired the man who broke all the rules. His final match came just weeks before his passing, against Joey Janela at Game Changer Wrestling’s WrestleMania weekend show—a fitting final chapter for a man who never truly stopped living for the ring.

News of Sabu’s passing prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans and fellow wrestlers. Rob Van Dam, one of his closest friends and frequent tag team partners, posted a single emoji of a finger pointing skyward—a subtle but powerful nod to Sabu’s iconic in-ring gesture. Taz, another ECW veteran, shared heartfelt words, calling him a trailblazer and someone who influenced an entire generation of wrestlers.

AEW and other promotions issued statements honoring his legacy, with many noting how his contributions helped shape the landscape of modern wrestling. “He was fearless,” one post read. “He was a warrior.”

Sabu was inducted into the Hardcore Hall of Fame in 2009, and more recently, into the Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2024. These honors reflect not just his accomplishments, but the immense respect he commanded from peers and fans alike.

Terry Brunk lived and died as a wrestler. He wasn’t flashy outside the ring. He didn’t chase Hollywood or try to reinvent himself in other industries. He was simply Sabu—raw, intense, and unforgettable.

In the world of professional wrestling, where so many characters come and go, Sabu stood the test of time. He leaves behind a legacy of broken tables, unforgettable moments, and the kind of legend that only comes once in a lifetime.

The ring will never be the same without you.