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Wrestling World Pays Tribute To ECW Icon Sabu

By Lyle Kilbane • Published May 12, 2025 05:11 EDT
Sabu ECW

The wrestling world has come together to pay tribute to former ECW and WWE star Sabu who unexpectedly passed away aged 60.

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.

ECW Icons Help Pay Tribute To Sabu

Many of his old ECW rivals, such as Rob Van Dam and Taz, led the tributes to the late star on social media. Taz posted a video message where he recounted his experiences with Sabu.

Sabu’s former tag team partner Rob Van Dam wrote on social media:

Here we were just a few weeks ago at Wrestlecon. You never know when it’s the last time you’ll be together when it comes to this. Sabu was as irreplaceable in my life as he was in the industry. You all know how important he was to my career, and you know how much he meant to me personally. He’s been a tremendous influence since I was 18 years old , when I met him.

Learning to be an adult, while you’re in the crazy environment of this business can go several different ways. I’m proud to have been able to carry on so many of Sheik and Sabu’s values, both in and out of the ring. Sabu helped make me the wrestler I am, the person I am, and I’ll always be proud of that and grateful. and because he loved the business more than anyone I know… wRESTle IN PEACE

Many other tributes to Sabu from across the world of wrestling can be found below.