Booker T Pays Emotional Tribute To Sabu
Sabu left an incredible mark on the wrestling industry and everyone in it.
The shock news of Sabu’s death, broken on 11th May by PWInsider’s Mike Johnson, comes less than four weeks removed from Sabu’s retirement match in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 18th April. The two-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion defeated Joey Janela on that night in a brutal No Rope Barbed Wire match at GCW Spring Break 9.
The popular star – real name Terry Brunk – initially made his in-ring debut in 1985 after being trained by his Uncle, Ed ‘The Sheik’ Farhat.
Having wrestled for a number of promotions during the early years of his career, including WWE and USWA, it wasn’t until signing for Philadelphia-based promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling in 1993 that Sabu truly made his name.
It proved to be a highly successful stint in ECW, which saw Sabu lift the ECW World Championship, FTW Heavyweight Championship, ECW World Television Championship, and ECW World Tag Team Championship.
Booker T Pays Tribute To ECW Legend Sabu
On the latest episode of his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T shared his memories of the wrestling legend, while admitting he initially struggled to come to terms with the news.
“I had a rough day yesterday. I’m serious. I didn’t realize I was going to take it that hard. I could not get motivated yesterday at all. I couldn’t get out of bed. I couldn’t really get going thinking about the passing of Sabu..
The first time I met him, back in 1992. I was in Japan… I looked at Sabu, scars all over his body. I mean, on his arms, on his head, on his face, or his chest, everywhere, and I was thinking at that moment, ‘Man, do I gotta do that to get in the business?’”
Booker added that wrestlers continue to copy Sabu’s in-ring style to this very day, proving what an incredible talent he was.
“He was always quiet. He was always in his own zone. He always went out there and performed at his highest level and did what he did best. He was an innovator. People right now, still to this day, copy Sabu’s style and his in-ring performances.”
There will never be another.
H/t to WrestlingNews.Co