Veteran wrestler Sabu, born Terry Brunk, died Sunday at age 60, AEW and WWE announced. Known for his barbed-wire battles and death-defying stunts, Sabu’s passing leaves a void in pro wrestling’s hardcore scene.
AEW paid tribute on social media: “From barbed wire battles to unforgettable high-risk moments, Sabu gave everything to professional wrestling.” WWE echoed those sentiments, mourning the loss of a pioneer whose influence spans decades.
AEW and the wrestling world mourns the passing of Sabu.
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 11, 2025
From barbed wire battles to unforgettable high-risk moments, Sabu gave everything to professional wrestling.
Our thoughts are with his family, his friends and his fans. pic.twitter.com/JpgbYj2KKl
A Career Forged in Hardcore
Trained by his uncle, Ed “The Sheik” Farhat, Sabu rose to fame in the 1990s ECW. He blended high-flying acrobatics with ultraviolent matches, using chairs, tables, and barbed wire as weapons of choice. Over his ECW tenure, he captured:
- Two ECW World Heavyweight Championships
- ECW Tag Team Championship
- ECW World Television Championship
His legendary feuds with Rob Van Dam, Taz, and The Sandman defined an era. Sabu also showcased his talents in New Japan Pro Wrestling, WCW, and TNA.
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WWE and AEW Highlights
In 2006, WWE revived the ECW brand and signed Sabu. He challenged Rey Mysterio for the World Heavyweight Championship and John Cena for the WWE Championship. At WrestleMania 23 in Detroit, Sabu joined the ECW Originals—The Sandman, Tommy Dreamer, and Rob Van Dam—to defeat The New Breed in front of 80,000 fans.
After leaving WWE in 2007, Sabu toured the independents. He returned to the national spotlight in 2023 as a special enforcer for AEW, officiating a match between Chris Jericho and Adam Cole.
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A Fitting Farewell
Just weeks ago, Sabu wrestled his final match. During WrestleMania weekend in Las Vegas, he faced Joey Janela at Joey Janela’s Spring Break 9. GCW owner Brett Lauderdale told ESPN it was “an honor and a pleasure” to give Sabu “the sendoff he deserved.” Lauderdale praised the match as “100 percent authentic Sabu.”
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Legacy and Unanswered Questions
Throughout his career, Sabu embodied the hardcore spirit. His 2021 Preakness win on Rombauer and several Breeders’ Cup titles highlight his versatility beyond ECW. Two years ago, he won the $3 million Pegasus World Cup on Art Collector for Bill Mott.
Sabu’s cause of death remains undisclosed. His sudden departure shocks fans and peers alike. As the wrestling world mourns, his legacy endures in every high-risk leap and every crowd-pleasing spot he delivered.
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