Professional wrestling figure Terry Brunk, recognized by fans globally as Sabu, has passed away at 60 years old, multiple sources confirmed on May 11, 2025. The cause of death remains undisclosed.
Sabu’s death follows his retirement bout with Joey Janela at a Game Changer Wrestling event during WrestleMania 41 weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18, 2025. He also attended the Tri-State Wrestling Alliance reunion convention at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, shortly before his passing.
The nephew of wrestling icon Ed “The Sheik” Farhat, Sabu began his wrestling career in 1985 in the Midwest. After a short period in WWE (formerly WWF) and competing in Japan, he joined Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) in the mid-1990s, where he quickly rose to prominence.
In ECW, Sabu was known as “the suicidal, homicidal, genocidal, death-defying maniac” due to his high-risk wrestling style, which included aerial moves and the use of tables, chairs, ladders, and barbed wire. His unique approach contributed to ECW’s distinctive style and influenced many subsequent wrestlers.
During his career, Sabu won several titles, including being a two-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion, an ECW World Television Champion, and a three-time ECW Tag Team Champion. Outside ECW, he claimed the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in 2000 and secured titles in various independent promotions worldwide.
After ECW closed, Sabu continued wrestling in various promotions like Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). In 2006, he joined WWE as part of the revived ECW brand. During his WWE stint, Sabu competed against top wrestlers such as Rey Mysterio, Big Show, and John Cena.
One of his memorable WWE appearances occurred at WrestleMania 23 on April 1, 2007, in Detroit, Michigan. He teamed with fellow ECW Originals Rob Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer, and The Sandman to defeat The New Breed team in front of 80,000 fans. WWE released Sabu from his contract in May 2007.
Post-WWE, Sabu continued wrestling in independent promotions. In 2023, he appeared twice for All Elite Wrestling (AEW), acting as a special enforcer in a match between Adam Cole and Chris Jericho.
Tributes to Sabu have come from across the wrestling community. Taz, a former ECW rival and current AEW announcer, shared his grief via social media, stating, “I would not have had the career that I have had, and I’ve been blessed to have, if it wasn’t for Sabu. That man got me over, and he didn’t have to get me over, and he did.”
Rob Van Dam, a long-time rival and tag team partner of Sabu in ECW, acknowledged his passing with a simple upward-pointing finger emoji on social media, referencing Sabu’s signature pose. AEW released a statement saying, “AEW and the wrestling world mourns the passing of Sabu,” while WWE extended condolences to Sabu’s family, friends, and fans.
Brett Lauderdale, owner of Game Changer Wrestling, which organized Sabu’s final match, reflected on the event’s importance with ESPN. He described it as an honor and privilege to work with Sabu for his farewell match, emphasizing the significance of providing the wrestling legend with a fitting sendoff. Lauderdale noted that Sabu’s life and career were worth celebrating and was satisfied that his last match embodied Sabu’s true essence.
Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer dubbed Sabu the “king of the death matches” and credited him with popularizing hardcore wrestling in the United States. AEW wrestler Mark Briscoe shared his personal inspiration, stating, “Nobody made me want to be a wrestler more than Sabu.”
Sabu had reportedly faced health issues in recent years. In 2023, he experienced a “serious medical emergency” during a wrestling event that required hospitalization. He had also publicly spoken about needing several surgeries for his knee, back, and shoulders.
Beyond his in-ring career, Sabu was featured in several video games, including ECW Hardcore Revolution, Legends of Wrestling, and WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008. His impact on professional wrestling continues through his pioneering influence on hardcore and high-risk wrestling styles.
