News

ECW Icon Finally Set To Retire Aged 60

By Craig Ballantyne • Published 20th January 2025
ECW logo over blurred background

One of ECW’s biggest stars will hang up his boots in 2025.

At The People vs. GCW in New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom, Joey Janela defeated former ECW World Heavyweight Champion Masato Tanaka in a brutal match involving tables, chairs, and even a door.

After dropping Tanaka with a Package Piledriver onto a steel chair for the victory, Janela picked up a microphone and asked the crowd to give the Japanese legend a standing ovation. Before he was able to say more, the lights went out and clips of ECW star Sabu began playing.

When the lights came back on, the iconic star was standing in the ring, and Janela announced that he would face him on April 19th at Spring Break: Clusterf**k Forever in Las Vegas, Nevada. Not only that, but it would also be the final match of Sabu’s 35-year career.

Sabu made his name in ECW during the 1990s, earning his name as the ‘Homicidal Suicidal Genocidal Death-Defying Maniac’ with wild hardcore matches that went beyond anything seen on US TV before. During his time in the promotion, the star became a two-time World Champion as well as having runs with the TV and Tag Team Titles.

While reflecting on his time in the promotion recently, Sabu praised Paul Heyman as someone he enjoyed working with. The star even put Heyman’s wrestling mind above Vince McMahon’s, having worked for both promoters during his storied career.

As well as ECW and WWE, Sabu worked worldwide on the independent scene, winning accolades wherever he went. While the star has not wrestled since 2021, it looks like he has now decided it’s time to leave the ring behind officially.

ECW Legend Sabu Blasts Bulls**t WWE Hall Of Fame

Sabu has no interest in being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. The star recently explained why he thinks it’s “bulls**t,” holding up one Hall of Famer in particular as the reason it couldn’t be taken seriously in the pro wrestling world.