Sabu, a legendary figure in hardcore wrestling known for his extreme style during the 1990s ECW era, has died at the age of 60, according to PWInsider.com. No cause of death has been revealed.
Born Terry Brunk, Sabu was famous for his high-risk, daredevil performances involving tables, ladders, chairs, and barbed wire. He earned the nickname “the suicidal, homicidal, genocidal, death-defying maniac” for his fearless style.
Sabu, born Terry Michael Brunk on December 12, 1964, was a pioneering figure in professional wrestling, best known for his high-risk, hardcore style that revolutionized the genre in the 1990s. A nephew of legendary wrestler The Sheik (Ed Farhat), Sabu was trained in the brutal, no-rules style that would define his career. He debuted in 1985 and quickly gained a reputation for his fearless in-ring persona and willingness to endure extreme physical punishment.
Sabu rose to prominence in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), where he became one of the promotion’s most iconic figures. Dubbed “the suicidal, homicidal, genocidal, death–defying maniac,” he helped define ECW’s identity with wild, weapon-filled matches that often featured tables, barbed wire, and high-flying moves. His feuds with wrestlers like Taz, Rob Van Dam, and Terry Funk became ECW staples and helped elevate the promotion’s underground appeal.
Throughout his career, Sabu wrestled internationally, competing in Japan’s FMW and NJPW, where he continued to push the limits of hardcore wrestling. He also had brief runs in WCW and WWE, including a notable stint with WWE’s ECW relaunch in the mid-2000s. While injuries often plagued his career due to his reckless style, Sabu remained a cult favorite and a symbol of hardcore wrestling’s raw edge.
Despite numerous setbacks and health challenges, Sabu continued to wrestle on the independent circuit. Sabu wrestled his final match on April 18, 2025 during WrestleMania weekend in Las Vegas, where he faced and defeated Joey Janela. Just days before his passing, he made what is believed to be his last public appearance at the Tri-State Wrestling Alliance reunion show and convention, held at the historic 2300 Arena—better known as the former ECW Arena.
