Hours after news of Sabu’s passing, Dave Meltzer took to Wrestling Observer Radio to discuss the toll that Sabu’s hardcore wrestling style took on his life and career. Sabu, whose real name was Terry Brunk, died at the age of 60, leaving behind a legacy defined by blood, barbed wire, and unmatched brutality inside the ring.
Meltzer began by addressing Sabu’s physical condition in his final years, noting the toll decades of hardcore wrestling took on his body. “Sabu had a lot of issues from, you know, the painkillers from what he did,” Meltzer said. He also mentioned that Sabu “did take what looked like a bad bump in that match too where he kind of fell backwards to the floor, and he’s 60 years old. You know, I mean, I know he hadn’t wrestled in years.”
Sabu’s personal life was also marked by heartbreak, which Meltzer emphasized while reflecting on a tragic loss that deeply affected Sabu. “He went through some major heartbreak, you know, with… his, I don’t know if it was his girlfriend or whatever… when she passed away, you know, which was years ago but, you know, at a very young age,” Meltzer revealed. He suggested that the emotional pain compounded the physical punishment Sabu endured throughout his career.
Meltzer painted a grim picture of Sabu’s condition in the years after his ECW run, describing how promoters would book Sabu despite his deteriorating health. “There were many horror stories before, and it’s kind of… you know, I mean, he lived through them and since he was out of wrestling, you kind of hope that, you know, now that he’s out of wrestling, we’re not going to see and hear them,” Meltzer said.
He also discussed how Sabu’s hardcore persona became both a blessing and a curse, with Sabu feeling pressured to constantly outdo himself to live up to his reputation. “He was mentally tough to be able to go out there, and every show he had to do it because that was the gimmick. The gimmick was that he worked harder than everybody else,” Meltzer explained.
Meltzer recalled a conversation where Sabu refused to wear protective padding, saying, “I remember like very early on, you know, they go like, how come you don’t, you know, put more padding on? He goes, ‘Because then people will say, oh, it’s not that tough.’ He wanted it to be tough.”
Meltzer also expressed regret over how Sabu’s career unfolded, pointing out that Sabu never received the financial rewards that many wrestlers did in the late 90s. “By the time, you know, the big money was there, I mean, he didn’t quite get that big money during the late 90s run that perhaps he could have had things worked out differently,” Meltzer said, implying that Sabu’s loyalty to ECW and hardcore wrestling may have cost him bigger paydays.
Despite the physical and emotional toll, Sabu’s reputation as a hardcore icon remained intact until his final days. Meltzer acknowledged Sabu’s last match against Joey Janela over WrestleMania weekend, saying, “He picked up a lot of injuries. He went for a long time… just had his retirement match at WrestleMania weekend with Joey Janela, which, you know, wish I went now, but that’s how it goes.”
Meltzer wrapped up his comments by reflecting on the double-edged sword of hardcore wrestling, particularly the influence ECW had on Sabu and countless others. “Sometimes I think back and it’s like, oh, you know, wouldn’t it be better if we didn’t have people going, ‘We want tables,’ which obviously started in ECW during every big match because they’re sitting there wanting people to pull out tables,” Meltzer said. He noted that while Sabu gained fame through his willingness to go to extremes, the toll it took was undeniable.
Sabu’s career was marked by iconic moments in ECW, FMW, and WWE, where he delivered unforgettable matches against the likes of Rob Van Dam, Taz, and Terry Funk. But as Meltzer’s comments reveal, the hardcore legend’s life behind the scenes was filled with pain, heartbreak, and lingering injuries that haunted him long after the bell rang.
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What are your thoughts on Sabu’s legacy? Was the hardcore style worth the toll it took on his body and life? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.