Sabu (wrestler)

From Vero - Wikipedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox professional wrestler

Terrance Michael Brunk (Born December 12,1964 – May 11, 2025) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Sabu. He was known for his trademark style of hardcore wrestling, which he pioneered in his time with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW).<ref name="legacy"/> He was a three-time world champion, having held the ECW World Heavyweight Championship twice and the NWA World Heavyweight Championship once.

Under the tutelage of his uncle Ed "The Sheik" Farhat, Brunk began his career wrestling in the North American independent scene in 1985 under the name of Sabu, before traveling to Japan, competing in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), winning several championships, including the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. He returned to the United States in 1995, briefly working for World Championship Wrestling (WCW), before beginning his most well-known stint in ECW, where he quickly became a fixture of the promotion. During his time in ECW, he became a two-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion and a one-time ECW World Television Champion. He would have both a feud and an alliance with The Tazmaniac, defeating him for the ECW FTW Championship and winning the ECW World Tag Team Championship with him. In 1997, Sabu began a tag team with Rob Van Dam, winning the ECW Tag Team Championship twice.

After leaving ECW, Sabu wrestled in several national promotions, winning the NWA World Heavyweight Championship for the National Wrestling Alliance in 2000. He also had multiple stints in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, debuting shortly after its creation in 2002 and making his final appearance in 2020. From 2006–2007, he was signed to World Wrestling Entertainment as part of their rebooted version of ECW. He remained a mainstay on the independent circuit for decades, and wrestled his retirement match for Game Changer Wrestling three weeks before his death.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1985–1991)

Brunk began his wrestling career in 1985, working for his uncle Ed "The Sheik" Farhat's promotion, Big Time Wrestling. Over the next few years, Brunk wrestled for various independent promotions and made a few appearances for United States Wrestling Association in 1991 as Samu, feuding with Jeff Jarrett and Robert Fuller.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

World Wrestling Federation (1993)

Sabu made three appearances for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1993. He defeated Scott Taylor in a dark match before Monday Night Raw on October 18, lost to Owen Hart the next night for a dark match at a Wrestling Challenge taping, and defeated Taylor again in a dark match at a WWF Superstars of Wrestling taping on October 20.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Frontier Martial–Arts Wrestling (1991–1994)

In 1991, Sabu made his first tour of Japan with Frontier Martial–Arts Wrestling (FMW). While wrestling for FMW, Sabu received many of the scars on his arms and torso for which he became famous.<ref name="luchas"/> On May 6, 1992, Sabu teamed with his uncle, the Sheik, in a Fire Death Match against Atsushi Onita and Tarzan Goto, where the ring ropes were replaced with flaming barbed wire and covered in towels soaked in kerosene. They were in the ring for about a minute before evacuating due to the intense heat.<ref name="wwe"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His final match in FMW was a loss to the debuting Hayabusa at Summer Spectacular on August 28, 1994.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Eastern/Extreme Championship Wrestling (1993–1995)

On October 1, 1993, Sabu debuted in Eastern Championship Wrestling (ECW) as a villain at NWA Bloodfest, defeating The Tazmaniac.<ref name="debut"/> In his second match with the promotion, he rose to main event status and defeated Shane Douglas to win the ECW Heavyweight Championship.<ref name="ECWWorld"/> Sabu headlined the inaugural November to Remember event on November 13, teaming with Road Warrior Hawk in a title versus title dream partner tag team match against Terry Funk and King Kong Bundy with Sabu's ECW Heavyweight Championship and Funk's ECW Television Championship on the line, which he won after Bundy turned on Funk, becoming a double champion. Sabu lost the Heavyweight Championship to Funk at Holiday Hell on December 26.<ref name="ECWWorld"/> He received a rematch for the title in a Three Way Dance at The Night the Line Was Crossed on February 5, 1994, also involving Douglas, which ended in a sixty-minute time limit draw, thus Funk retained the title.<ref name="ECW1994">Template:Cite web</ref> Sabu lost the Television Championship to The Tazmaniac, which aired on the March 15 episode of Hardcore TV.<ref name="ECW1994"/> At When Worlds Collide on May 14, Sabu and Bobby Eaton defeated Funk and Arn Anderson, ending their feud.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

At Heat Wave on July 16, Sabu turned into a fan favorite by forming a tag team with Tazmaniac to defeat The Pitbulls. Later that night, Sabu faced Douglas for the Heavyweight Championship, but lost via count-out.<ref name="ECW1994"/> Sabu and Tazmaniac would begin feuding with The Triple Threat (Douglas, Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko), which led to Sabu facing Benoit in the main event of November to Remember on November 5, headlining ECW's premier event for the second consecutive year. The match prematurely ended when Benoit gave Sabu a back body drop and, expecting his opponent to land face-first, Sabu rotated himself in mid-air to attempt to land on his back. This injured Sabu's spinal cord, resulting in nerve damage.<ref name="ECW1994"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On February 4, 1995, Sabu and Tazmaniac defeated The Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) to win the ECW World Tag Team Championship in a double tables match at Double Tables.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They lost the titles to Benoit and Malenko three weeks later at Return of the Funker.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sabu wrestled his last match of his first tenure in ECW on the March 28 episode of Hardcore TV by defeating Mikey Whipwreck.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In April, after being scheduled to compete in the main event of Three Way Dance for the World Tag Team Championship, Sabu no–showed the event to accept a booking in Japan for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), which led Paul Heyman to publicly and legitimately fire Sabu at the event.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1995)

Sabu wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) throughout 1995, making his debut on January 4 in the Tokyo Dome, teaming with Masahiro Chono to defeat Junji Hirata and Tatsumi Fujinami.<ref name="KreikenbohmNJPW">Template:Cite web</ref> On May 3, Sabu defeated Koji Kanemoto at Wrestling Dontaku in the Fukuoka Dome to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He lost the title to Kanemoto on June 14 in Tokyo's Nippon Budokan in a bout where Kanemoto's UWA World Welterweight Championship was also on the line.<ref name="IWGPJrHeavyweight"/> He also defeated Gran Hamada to win the UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship on November 23 in the Todoroki Arena in Kawasaki, which he lost to El Samurai on December 1 in Niigata City.<ref name="UWAJrLightHeavyweight"/> Sabu made his final appearance with NJPW in Osaka on December 11, teaming with Hiro Saito to defeat Dean Malenko and Wild Pegasus.<ref name="KreikenbohmNJPW"/>

World Championship Wrestling (1995)

Sabu made his WCW debut on the September 11, 1995 episode of WCW Monday Nitro against Alex Wright. Sabu won the match, but the decision was reversed when, after the match, he put Wright through a table.<ref name="WCW1995">Template:Cite web</ref> Sabu defeated Mr. J.L. on the October 9 episode of Nitro and at Halloween Havoc on October 29; following the latter match, Sabu's uncle Sheik shot J.L. in the face with his trademark fireball.<ref name="WCW1995"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His last match in WCW was a victory against Disco Inferno on the October 30 episode of Nitro.<ref name="WCW1995"/>

Big Japan and All Japan Pro Wrestling (1996–1997)

Sabu returned to Japan to work for Big Japan Pro Wrestling in March 1996, where he embarked on an 18-match winning streak, first defeating Jason Knight on March 13 until June 4, when he lost to Kazuo Sakurada's Kendo Nagasaki.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He made his debut for All Japan Pro Wrestling in November 1996, initially teaming with Gary Albright before teaming with Rob Van Dam the following year.<ref name="KreikenbohmAJPW">Template:Cite web</ref>

Return to ECW (1995–2000)

Various feuds (1995–1997)

On November 18, 1995, Sabu returned to ECW at November to Remember, defeating Hack Meyers in his first match in the promotion in eight months.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He would embark on a winning streak against the likes of Cactus Jack at Holiday Hell on December 29,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Stevie Richards at House Party on January 5,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Mr. Hughes at Big Apple Blizzard Blast on February 3.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He faced 2 Cold Scorpio for the World Television Championship at CyberSlam on February 17, Just Another Night on February 23, and Big Ass Extreme Bash on March 8, but the matches ended in twenty-minute time limit draws.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sabu defeated Rob Van Dam on April 20 at Hostile City Showdown.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Van Dam refused to shake hands with him after the match, leading to a respect match at A Matter of Respect on May 11, which Sabu lost. He was forced to shake hands with Van Dam, who refused by saying "not only do I not respect you, you're a piece of shit".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sabu defeated Van Dam at Hardcore Heaven on June 22, in a stretcher match at The Doctor Is In on August 3,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and at Unlucky Lottery on September 13, after which Sabu finally earned Van Dam's respect. Van Dam was about to shake Sabu's hand until they were both attacked by The Can-Am Express.<ref name="ECW1996">Template:Cite web</ref> Their match against the Can-Am Express on September 14 at When Worlds Collide ended in a thirty-minute time limit draw,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but they defeated them in a rematch at High Incident on October 26.<ref name="ECW1996"/> Sabu and Van Dam failed to win the ECW Tag Team Championship from The Eliminators in a Tables and Ladders match on February 21, 1997 at CyberSlam.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At this time, Sabu's former tag team partner Tazmaniac (who had shortened his name to "Taz") began to publicly challenge Sabu at every given opportunity, but got no response. After a year of call-outs and insults from Taz, Paul Heyman revealed that he had asked Sabu, as a friend, to ignore Taz's challenge. This culminated in a match on April 13 at ECW's first pay-per-view, Barely Legal, which Taz won.<ref name="wwebio" /> Following the match, Taz's manager Bill Alfonso turned on him and sided with Sabu and Van Dam. This resulted in a double turn as Taz became a fan favorite while Sabu turned heel; he defeated Taz in a rematch on June 6 at Wrestlepalooza.<ref name="ECW1997">Template:Cite web</ref>

At Born to be Wired on August 9, Sabu competed in a no-rope barbed wire match against Terry Funk for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship, which was promoted as being "too extreme even for ECW". In one of the most memorable moments in ECW history, Sabu attempted the "Air Sabu" corner splash on Funk, but he moved and Sabu collided violently into the wire, which tore open his biceps.<ref name="legacy"/><ref name="wwebio"/> He then asked his manager Bill Alfonso for some tape, which he used to tape up the approximately 10-inch gash.<ref name="wwebio"/> Sabu ultimately defeated Funk to win the title for a second time; the match ended with both men so badly tangled up together in the barbed wire that it took several ring technicians armed with wire cutters to free them from the predicament.<ref name="ECWWorld"/><ref name="ECW1997"/> On the DVD Bloodsport – ECW's Most Violent Matches released by World Wrestling Entertainment, Paul Heyman said that the match was so gruesome that he never booked another barbed-wire match.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At Hardcore Heaven on August 17, Sabu lost the title to Shane Douglas in a three-way elimination match also involving Funk.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Teaming with Rob Van Dam (1997–2000)

Sabu at an ECW event in 1998

In mid-1997, Sabu was included in the WWF invasion angle, in which ECW wrestlers invaded WWF's Monday Night Raw program and held ECW-style matches and angles on the show. One memorable moment occurred when Sabu appeared during a match and performed an aerial move off the "R" in the "RAW" lettered entryway onto Team Taz members.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He and Van Dam defeated ECW loyalists Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman at Orgy of Violence on June 28.<ref name="ECW1997"/> On July 24, Sabu and Van Dam teamed with Jerry Lawler to face Dreamer, Sandman and Rick Rude in a steel cage match at Heat Wave. The match ended in a no contest after Rude turned on his teammates and attacked them.<ref name="ECW1997"/> Sabu defeated Sandman in a Tables and Ladders match at November to Remember on November 30,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> lost to him in a Stairway to Hell match at House Party on January 10,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and defeated him again in a Dueling Canes match at Living Dangerously on March 1, 1998 to conclude the rivalry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Shortly after the event, Sabu and Van Dam turned into fan favorites. At Wrestlepalooza on May 3, Sabu challenged Van Dam for the World Television Championship, but the match ended in a thirty-minute time limit draw.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On the July 1 episode of Hardcore TV, Sabu and Van Dam defeated Chris Candido and Lance Storm to win the World Tag Team Championship, beginning Sabu's second individual reign with the title.<ref name="ECWWorldTag"/> Sabu and Van Dam held the title for nearly four months, retaining the titles against various ECW teams such as Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks (Axl Rotten and Balls Mahoney), Full Blooded Italians, and The Dudley Boyz throughout the summer.<ref name="ECW1998">Template:Cite web</ref> They also defeated the Japanese team of Hayabusa and Jinsei Shinzaki at Heat Wave.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sabu and Van Dam lost the titles to the Dudley Boyz on the October 28 episode of Hardcore TV.<ref name="ECWWorldTag"/> Around the same time, they joined forces with former rival Taz to feud with The Triple Threat and formed a short-lived alliance to counter the faction called New Triple Threat. On November 1, at November to Remember, New Triple Threat defeated The Triple Threat in a six-man tag team match.<ref name="ECW1998"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

At the ECW/FMW Supershow II in Japan on December 13, Sabu and Van Dam defeated the Dudley Boyz to win their second World Tag Team Championship, marking Sabu's third individual title reign.<ref name="ECWWorldTag"/> On the December 23 episode of Hardcore TV, Sabu defeated Taz and Justin Credible in a three-way elimination match to win the FTW Heavyweight Championship after Taz put Sabu on top of him.<ref name="ECW1998"/> Van Dam and Sabu retained the titles against Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks at House Party on January 16, 1999.<ref name="ECW1999">Template:Cite web</ref> Sabu and Taz competed in a falls count anywhere title unification match for Sabu's FTW Championship and Taz's ECW World Heavyweight Championship at Living Dangerously on March 21, which Taz won to unify both titles.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sabu would begin wearing a neck brace and take some time off, resulting in his partner Van Dam defending the World Tag Team Championship against D-Von Dudley in a singles match on the April 23 episode of Hardcore TV, which D-Von won. As a result, the Dudley Boyz won the titles.<ref name="ECWWorldTag"/><ref name="ECW1999"/> Sabu then defeated Justin Credible at Anarchy Rulz on September 19.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sabu delivering the Arabian Skullcrusher to Rhyno in December 1999

Sabu failed to win the World Television Championship from Van Dam on the November 19 episode of Hardcore TV and the November 26 episode of ECW on TNN.<ref name="ECW1999"/> After defeating Chris Candido on November 7 at November to Remember,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sabu again failed to win the title at Guilty as Charged on January 9, 2000, in his final ECW pay-per-view appearance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the January 29 episode of Hardcore TV, Sabu wrestled his last televised match in ECW, in which he defeated C.W. Anderson.<ref name="ECW2000">Template:Cite web</ref> Sabu left ECW following a victory over Scott D'Amore on February 26.<ref name="ECW2000"/>

Independent circuit (2000–2005)

After leaving ECW, Sabu went to compete on the independent circuit for promotions such as Xtreme Pro Wrestling, IWA Mid-South, Stampede Wrestling and Border City Wrestling.<ref name="luchas"/> On April 29, 2000, he won a tournament for the vacated XPW World Heavyweight Championship. He was the only champion to defend the title outside of the United States. Sabu was stripped off the title in May 2001 after he was not present for an event. He also returned to All Japan Pro Wrestling in 2000 and 2001 as a singles competitor.<ref name="KreikenbohmAJPW"/> In 2002, he worked for Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling, winning the 3PW World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Gary Wolfe on October 19. He lost the title to Wolfe on December 28.<ref name="3PW"/>

After Sabu suffered a legitimate back injury, Brunk contracted a virus and was hospitalized, sidelining him for ten months. On December 12, a benefit show, A Night of Appreciation for Sabu, was held by the AWWL to raise funds for him.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The show was considered a success, raising enough money for Brunk to cover the costs of his medical care and make a full recovery.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sabu appeared at Hardcore Homecoming on June 10, where he defeated Terry Funk and Shane Douglas in a three-way no-ropes barbed wire match,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Return to Frontier Martial–Arts Wrestling (1997–2002)

Sabu returned to Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling on December 22, 1997, when he defeated ECW rival The Sandman at Super Extreme Wrestling War 1997 at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall. Then on December 13, 1998, he and Rob Van Dam defeated the Dudley Boyz to retain the ECW World Tag Team Titles at ECW/FMW Supershow. He would team up with Super Leather in a few tag team matches during 1999.Template:Citation needed

On February 3, 2002, Sabu defeated former ECW wrestlers The Sandman and Vic Grimes in a three-way dance. The next day was his last match with FMW was when he teamed with Tetsuhiro Kuroda and lost to The Sandman and Kodo Fuyuki for the vacated WEW Tag Team titles. This would be the promotion last event as it went bankrupt on the 15th.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

World Wrestling All-Stars (2002, 2003)

Sabu competed for the World Wrestling All-Stars (WWA) in a number of events during 2002 and 2003. This included four appearances on PPV and a number of memorable matches. His first appearance was at Revolution PPV in Las Vegas in February 2002. He faced Devon Storm in a hardcore match. He was defeated in this match after his manager Bill Alfonso accidentally hit him with a chair after Storm moved out the way. After the match Sabu and Storm continued to fight onto the ring entrance way. Sabu placed Storm on a table and leaped from the entrance way through Storm and the table. This feud continued on the next PPV, the Eruption, in Australia in April. Sabu fought Storm in a steel cage match. The action spilled out of the ring and the cage with Sabu gaining the victory after leaping from the top of the cage through Storm, who was placed on top of two tables on top of each other.Template:Citation needed

Next up Sabu took part in WWA European tour of November–December 2002. This included the Retribution PPV in Glasgow, which was broadcast two months later in February 2003. On this tour and PPV he fought former fellow ECW stars Perry Saturn and Simon Diamond in a three-way hardcore match. Sabu took the victory in each of these matches, usually gaining the pinfall over Diamond after Saturn left the match to defend his companion. His final appearance for the WWA came in their last PPV, The Reckoning, in New Zealand. During this tour he first fought Shane Douglas but due to injury he did not face him at the PPV. Instead, Douglas came to the ring and eventually allowed Joe E Legend to face Sabu instead. Sabu won this match, his second and last WWA match ever. When the All World Wrestling League began in April 2003 (a spin-off of Big Time Wrestling), which was run by Eddie & Tom Farhat, Sabu joined them for a while, before he left for another territory.Template:Citation needed

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2002–2006)

Sabu debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) on July 17, 2002, defeating Malice in a ladder match.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The following week, he faced Ken Shamrock in a ladder match which ended in a no contest after interference from Malice.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On February 25, 2004, Sabu teamed with Raven to defeat Raven's former "Gathering" protégés CM Punk and Julio Dinero.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The following month, he began feuding with Monty Brown and Abyss, who outnumbered him on several occasions after Raven failed to "watch his back".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sabu was eventually challenged to a match by Raven, but he refused to wrestle Raven as part of a promise he made to his uncle Ed "The Sheik" Farhat. Raven tormented Sabu by assaulting his friend Sonjay Dutt and waging a campaign against Sabu by disrespecting his uncle's memory,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> causing him to finally attack Raven on July 23.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On August 4, Sabu lost to Raven,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and a scheduled return match on August 18 was canceled after Sabu suffered a legitimate back injury.Template:Citation needed

Sabu returned to TNA on July 29, 2005.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At Sacrifice on August 14, Sabu teamed with old rival and then-NWA World Heavyweight Champion Raven to face Jeff Jarrett and Rhino. During the match, which Rhino and Jarrett won, Abyss interfered and attacked Sabu, starting a feud between the two.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At Unbreakable on September 11, Abyss defeated Sabu after performing his Black Hole Slam finisher onto a pile of tacks in the ring.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On October 23, at Bound for Glory, Sabu lost to Rhino in a Monster's Ball match also involving Abyss and Jeff Hardy, as well as in a ten-man gauntlet match later that night.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sabu again lost to Abyss on November 13 at Genesis,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> before defeating him in the promotion's first ever Barbed Wire Massacre at Turning Point on December 11, ending their feud.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After a hiatus, Sabu, having a broken forearm, returned at Lockdown on April 23, 2006, facing Samoa Joe for the TNA X Division Championship in a losing effort; he was released from TNA following this match.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

World Wrestling Entertainment (2005, 2006–2007)

Sabu in the ring at a WWE house show in 2006

At ECW One Night Stand, Sabu defeated Rhyno.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On April 23, 2006, Sabu signed a one-year contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At ECW One Night Stand on June 11, Sabu faced Rey Mysterio for the World Heavyweight Championship, but the match ended in a no contest after Sabu caught Mysterio in a front facelock and hit him with a DDT which caused both men to crash through a table. WWE medical staff rushed to the injured men and declared neither of them could continue, thus Mysterio retained his title.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On the June 13 premiere of ECW on Sci Fi, Sabu won a 10-man Extreme Battle Royal to earn a match against John Cena at Vengeance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sabu lost to Cena in their "Extreme Lumberjack match" at Vengeance on June 25.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On July 2, while traveling with fellow ECW wrestler Rob Van Dam, he was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and nine Vicodin tablets on U.S. Route 52 in Hanging Rock, Ohio.<ref name="arrest">Template:Cite web</ref> Brunk was fined $1,000 based on the guidelines of WWE's Wellness Policy.<ref name="Almanac">Template:Cite news</ref> He pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance and the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia was dropped. He was given a suspended sentence of 10 days in jail and a $500 fine.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sabu wrestling C. W. Anderson at the ECW Arena in June 2006

Towards the end of July, Sabu began to talk on camera for himself – instead of using a go between – and demanded a shot at Big Show's ECW World Championship which Paul Heyman refused to grant him in order to "protect" his champion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Instead, he forced him into a match against the returning Kurt Angle to determine a number one contender, which ended in a no contest after interference from the returning Van Dam.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the August 15 episode of ECW, Sabu defeated Van Dam in a ladder match to earn the title match against Big Show at SummerSlam on August 20, which he lost.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At Survivor Series on November 26, Sabu was a part of Team Cena (John Cena, Bobby Lashley, Kane and Van Dam), defeating Team Big Show (Big Show, Montel Vontavious Porter, Finlay, Test and Umaga); he eliminated Test but was eliminated by Big Show.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At December to Dismember on December 3, Sabu was originally set to appear in the main event, an Extreme Elimination Chamber match for the ECW World Championship, but was "taken out" and replaced by Hardcore Holly.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The following episode on ECW, after Punk and Van Dam defeated Test and Holly in a match they dedicated to Sabu, Heyman and his security team came out and beat them down until Sabu, with a heavily wrapped arm, returned to save them.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On January 28, 2007 at Royal Rumble, Sabu made his Royal Rumble match debut at number 7, but was eliminated by Kane after receiving a chokeslam over the top rope and through a table.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sabu then joined the ECW Originals along with Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman and feuded with the New Breed (Elijah Burke, Kevin Thorn, Marcus Cor Von and Matt Striker), defeating them at WrestleMania 23 on April 1<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but lost a rematch two nights later on ECW.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sabu's final WWE match was on the May 1 episode of ECW, where he competed in a fatal four-way match against Dreamer, Van Dam and Sandman to determine the number one contender for the ECW World Championship, which Van Dam won.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On May 16, Sabu was released from his WWE contract.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Independent circuit (2007–2010)

Sabu performing his signature taunt in 2009
Sabu in 2008

On July 13, 2007, it was announced that Sabu would be working in Mexico's AAA promotion in Mexico for their Triplemanía XV event. Sabu came out during the main event and put La Parka through a table, joining forces with the heels X-Pack, Ron "The Truth" Killings, and Konnan. Thereafter, he made appearances on their major televised programs on Galavision as a minor part of Konnan's heel stable, La Legión Extranjera.<ref name="luchas">Template:Cite web</ref> On October 30, 2010, Sabu defeated Damián 666 to win Xtreme Latin American Wrestling's International Championship.<ref name="XLAWInternational">Template:Cite web</ref>

Juggalo Championship Wrestling (2007–2011)

In 2007, Sabu teamed with Insane Clown Posse to defeat Trent Acid and the Young Alter Boys at Juggalo Championship Wrestling's Bloodymania.<ref name="JCW SLAM TV, Volume 2">Template:Cite video</ref> During the second season of the company's internet wrestling show SlamTV!, Raven was involved in a feud with JCW Heavyweight Champion Corporal Robinson.<ref name="SlamTV2-2">Template:Cite episodeTemplate:Cbignore</ref> In the third episode, Sabu appeared from out of the crowd and saved Robinson from an attack by Raven and his lackey Sexy Slim Goody.<ref name="SlamTV2-3">Template:Cite episodeTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Raven and Goody teamed up against Robinson and Sabu in the following episode, but Raven fled from the match.<ref name="SlamTV2-4">Template:Cite episodeTemplate:Cbignore</ref> At Bloodymania III, Sabu defeated Raven in a Raven's Rules match.<ref name="oww">Template:Cite web</ref> He returned as a full-time member of the roster at Oddball Wrestling 2010, where he defeated Officer Colt Cabana in an "I Quit" match.<ref name="JCWOddball">Template:Cite video</ref> Following two victories, Sabu teamed with The Weedman to defeat Bull Pain and Isabella Smothers at Hardcore Hell.<ref name="VilentNight">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="FlashlightHysteria">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="HardcoreHell">Template:Cite web</ref> After the match, per narrative thread, he aligned himself with villainous manager Charlie Brown.<ref name="HardcoreHell"/> Sabu defeated heroic face 2 Tuff Tony at the next event, and continued to attack him after the match ended.<ref name="MonstersIsland">Template:Cite web</ref> He and Tony wrestled again at Up in Smoke in a match where Rob Conway was hired by Brown to attack Tony.<ref name="UpinSmoke">Template:Cite web</ref> After Rhino scared off Sabu and Conway, a tag team match was scheduled between the two and Rhino and Tony at St. Andrew's Brawl.<ref name="UpinSmoke"/>

Return to TNA (2010)

On August 2, 2010, it was confirmed that Sabu would be taking part in TNA's ECW reunion show against TNA World Heavyweight Champion Rob Van Dam in the main event of Hardcore Justice on August 8,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which he lost.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the following edition of Impact!, the ECW alumni, known collectively as Extreme, Version 2.0 (EV 2.0), were assaulted by A.J. Styles, Kazarian, Robert Roode, James Storm, Douglas Williams and Matt Morgan of Ric Flair's Template:Not a typo stable, who thought they did not deserve to be in TNA.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The following week, TNA president Dixie Carter gave each member of EV 2.0 TNA contracts in order for them to settle their score with Template:Not a typo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At No Surrender on September 5, Sabu unsuccessfully challenged Williams for the TNA X Division Championship.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At Bound for Glory on October 10, Sabu, Tommy Dreamer, Raven, Rhino and Stevie Richards defeated Fortune members Styles, Kazarian, Morgan, Roode and Storm in a Lethal Lockdown match.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the October 21 edition of Impact!, Sabu and Van Dam lost to Storm and Roode after Sabu accidentally hit Van Dam with a chair. After the match, Van Dam and Sabu began shoving each other, before being broken up by the rest of EV 2.0.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At Turning Point on November 7, EV 2.0 faced Fortune in a ten-man tag team match, where each member of EV 2.0 put their TNA careers on the line. Styles won the match for his team by pinning Sabu, who as a result was fired from TNA.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It had been reported earlier that Brunk's release from TNA was legitimate.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Return to independent circuit (2012–2021)

Sabu performing his Arabian Facebuster on Michael Elgin in August 2011

On January 14, 2012, Sabu returned to the former ECW Arena, when he defeated Justin Credible at an Evolve event in the venue's final professional wrestling event.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2013, Sabu completed a UK tour, wrestling for a number of the UK's top promotions. Sabu entered the Extreme Rising World Championship tournament but was eliminated in the first round by Devon Storm.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On March 30, 2013, Sabu made his Newfoundland wrestling debut when he wrestled in the Newfoundland and Labrador based company's CEW "King Of The Rock" tournament. This was a two-show event which saw Sabu defeat multiple CEW mainstays such as CEW headliners Psycho Mitch and Krys Krysmon. Sabu ultimately lost the tournament after a brutal match with Scott Gotch in which Sabu lost intentionally at the request of CEW owner Dennis Guthrie. As a reward, CEW owner enshrined Sabu as the new CEW Newfoundland Heritage Champion. He defended his title in a Fatal Four-Way elimination match on April 1, 2013, for CEW in St. Lawrence, NL against Justin Lock, Tony King and Brandon Flip. In Scotland, Sabu challenged Jack Jester for the ICW Heavyweight Championship but was defeated.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sabu returned to ICW in 2015 to continue his feud with Jester and challenge the ICW World Heavyweight Champion Drew Galloway<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but was again defeated.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sabu also worked for Pro Wrestling Holland, where he held the PWH Championship.<ref name="PWHolland"/> On October 18, 2014, at Insurrection, Sabu defeated Balls Mahoney to win the WWL Extreme Championship. He lost the title against Monster Pain. He also wrestled for the Big Time Wrestling independent circuit.Template:Citation needed

On June 5, 2015, Sabu lost a match to his long-time partner Rob Van Dam in Scranton, Pennsylvania. At the end of the match, after pinning Sabu, RVD helped him up off the mat and both raised hands together.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On August 17, 2018, Sabu lost to Nick Gage at a GCW event.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On November 5, 2021, Sabu officially announced his retirement from professional wrestling.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Second return to Impact Wrestling (2019, 2020)

On February 8, 2019, it was revealed that Sabu would return to TNA, now named Impact Wrestling, at United We Stand on April 4,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> where Sabu and Rob Van Dam were defeated by the Lucha Bros (Pentagón Jr. and Fénix).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>On the May 31 episode of Impact, Sabu, Rob Van Dam and Tommy Dreamer defeated The North and Moose. On the June 6 episode of Impact, Sabu and Rob Van Dam lost to The North (Ethan Page and Josh Alexander). on the July 20 episode of Xplosion, Sabu defeated Raj Singh. On September 4, it was reported that Impact would bring him back for more dates in the future.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Two days later, Sabu fought Rohit Raju to a double countout at the Impact television tapings in Las Vegas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At Bound for Glory on October 20, Sabu competed in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet match, which was won by Eddie Edwards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On the March 24, 2020 episode of Impact, Sabu and Rhino defeated Ohio Versus Everything (Dave Crist and Madman Fulton) in Sabu's final match in TNA.

Final appearances (2023–2025)

On May 24, 2023, Sabu made his debut for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) on Dynamite, where he was revealed to be the special guest enforcer for the unsanctioned match between Adam Cole and Chris Jericho at Double or Nothing.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On April 18, 2025, Sabu won his retirement match, a No Rope Barbed Wire match against Joey Janela at Game Changer Wrestling (GCW)'s Joey Janela's Spring Break 9, three weeks before his death.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The match and GCW would later come under scrutiny after an interview with Janela was published in which he intimated that Sabu was unfit to wrestle the match until he was provided a dose of the opiate substitute kratom in response to pain to ensure his attendance, and that he still appeared intoxicated backstage when he arrived at the show.<ref name="yahoo">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="janela">Template:Cite web</ref>

Other media

He appeared in the video game ECW Hardcore Revolution, Legends of Wrestling, Legends of Wrestling II, Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This At Home, Showdown: Legends of Wrestling, and WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sabu's likeness also appears, albeit unofficially, in several games within the Fire Pro Wrestling franchise including Fire Pro Wrestling, Fire Pro Wrestling 2, and Fire Pro Wrestling Returns.Template:Citation needed

On September 8, 2016, Brunk guest starred on an episode of the Viceland television program, Traveling the Stars: Action Bronson and Friends Watch 'Ancient Aliens': Alien Devastation with his former tag team partner Rob Van Dam and manager The Super Genie.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Personal life

Brunk's father was of Irish and German descent, while his mother was of Lebanese descent.<ref name=in /> He graduated from Sexton High School in 1982.<ref name="lansing"/> At the age of 19, Brunk was shot in the face at a house party, and he began training for his wrestling career after being released from the hospital.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Brunk was married to a Japanese woman named Hitomi, on June 22, 1997, in Michigan, and had a separate Japanese ceremony on December 12, 1998, in Tokyo while in Japan for the ECW/FMW Supershow.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They later separated and divorced in 2012. In Forever Hardcore, Brunk reveals he took his name "Sabu" from Indian-American actor Sabu, of whom his uncle Ed Farhat was a fan.<ref name="in">Template:Cite web</ref>

In July 2016, Brunk was named part of a class action lawsuit filed against WWE which alleged that wrestlers incurred "long term neurological injuries" and that the company "routinely failed to care" for them and "fraudulently misrepresented and concealed" the nature and extent of those injuries. The suit was litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against WWE.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The lawsuit was dismissed by US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant in September 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the mid-2010s, Brunk began dating Melissa Coates, who also began working as his wrestling valet from late 2014 until her death on June 23, 2021.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Death

Brunk died on May 11, 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Despite being listed as aged 60 at the time of his death, court documents indicate he was actually 61.<ref name="Age">Template:Cite web</ref> GCW, which hosted Sabu's final match three weeks prior to his death, denied any involvement in Sabu's death.<ref name="janela"/>

Professional wrestling style and persona

Sabu performing the Arabian Clutch on Dru Onyx

Sabu was nicknamed "The Homicidal, Suicidal, Genocidal, Death–Defying Maniac" due to his mixed style of high-flying and hardcore wrestling.<ref name="wwebio">Template:Cite web</ref> Some of his moves included using a steel chair, like the Air Sabu (a heel kick to a cornered opponent, with the assistance of a steel chair), the Arabian Facebuster (jumping, diving or a somersault leg drop, driving a steel chair into the face of the opponent) or the Arabian Skullcrusher (jumping, diving or a somersault leg drop, driving a steel chair into the back of the opponent's head, usually through a table).<ref name="legacy">Template:Cite web</ref>

One of the most notable aspects of Sabu's character was his refusal to speak, however, he claimed that he had to do the most talking he ever did in WWE.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In his early career, Sabu was billed as being from Saudi Arabia, or Bombay, India (in real life he was a second-generation Lebanese American from a suburb of Detroit). In ECW, however, he was clearly heard speaking in the ring on several occasions and it was fairly common knowledge that Brunk was an American citizen from birth. This led to a joke at kayfabe's expense when Sabu began to be billed as hailing from "Bombay, Michigan".<ref name="wwe"/> When he debuted in ECW, Sabu's character was an uncontrollable madman who was strapped to a gurney, wore a Hannibal Lecter-style face mask and was accompanied by his handler 911.<ref name="debut">Template:Cite web</ref> He also wore turban ring entrance attire similar to that of his uncle and was even considered to be the one who carried The Sheik's "legacy".<ref name="lansing">Template:Cite news</ref>

Sabu was credited as a revolutionary due to his work in ECW.<ref name="wwe">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Championships and accomplishments

Sabu's Hardcore Hall of Fame banner in the former ECW Arena

Footnotes

Template:Reflist

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Commons category

Template:Navboxes

Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=Sabu_(wrestler)&oldid=511454"