Latest news with #ArabianFacebuster
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sabu, High-Flying ‘Hardcore' Pro Wrestling Pioneer, Dies at 60
Sabu, the high-risk, high-flying 'hardcore' professional wrestling pioneer who helped bring tables, chairs, barbed wire and other instruments of brutality into the mainstream, has died, according to multiple reports. He was 60. His death was first reported by PWInsider and later confirmed by All Elite Wrestling and TMZ. No additional details were available. AEW and the wrestling world mourns the passing of Sabu. From barbed wire battles to unforgettable high-risk moments, Sabu gave everything to professional wrestling. Our thoughts are with his family, his friends and his fans. — All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 11, 2025 Born Terry Brunk in Staten Island, Brunk grew up in a wrestling family, and was trained by his uncle, Ed Farhat, better known as The Sheik. Farhat's high-risk style suited his nephew, who went on to become a champion in Extreme Championship Wrestling and a fan favorite for his extreme style. Sabu began wrestling in the 1980s, primarily in Japan, where he honed his death-defying acrobatics and hardcore punishment. Sabu later rose to prominence in the ECW, where his nickname was 'The Homicidal, Suicidal, Genocidal, Death-Defying Maniac.' Sabu had brief stints at the top levels of pro wrestling, including the WCW and WWE, bringing his signature daredevil brutality to mainstream fans – but some of it was just too much, and he left over creative differences. Most of his career took place in fringe tiers, like Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he pioneered moves like the 'Arabian Facebuster' and 'triple-jump moonsault.' Often performing while injured, Sabu's intense toughness and use of tables, barbed wire and other gnarly implements inspired future generations of hardcore wrestlers. Sabu died less than two weeks after his final match on April 18 during Game Changer Wrestling's Joey Janela's Spring Break 9 in Las Vegas, where he faced Joey Janela. According to multiple reports, he left with a bloodied face. The post Sabu, High-Flying 'Hardcore' Pro Wrestling Pioneer, Dies at 60 appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former WWE Star and ECW Legend Passes Away at 60
The wrestling world is mourning the loss of one of its most fearless names, Sabu, who has passed away at the age of 60. The cause of his death remains unclear at this time, leaving fans in shock. Born Terry Brunk, Sabu became a hardcore icon in Paul Heyman's Extreme Championship Wrestling in the 1990s. He was trained by his uncle the original Sheik, gaining notoriety for his relentless style, daring moves, and barbed-wire fights that contributed to the formation of ECW. He was a two-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion and a key figure during the promotion's rise to cult status. Advertisement After his short stint at Total Nonstop Action, Sabu also had a notable run in WWE and during the 2006 revival of ECW under Vince McMahon. Though the environment was tamer than his heyday, he still thrilled fans with his signature Arabian Facebuster and table-smashing chaos. With his unconventional style of attack and desire to test the limits of physical stamina, Sabu motivated a generation of wrestlers throughout several decades. He also competed at AEW after coming out of retirement at All or Nothing for an unsanctioned match. The late 60-year-old had an incalculable influence on the profession, particularly in the hardcore wrestling movement. The report of his passing was first shared by PWInsider's Sean Ross Sapp. And evidently, fans were shocked to hear ECW Legend's death. "Damn RIP", wrote one fans while the one commented, "so sad, at least he can rest now". One fan even noted how the deceased superstar was rumored to fight in few days, but the reports remain unclear. More tributes poured in from across the wrestling world, as fans remember Sabu not just for the violence he brought to the ring, but for the passion and authenticity he always displayed. His legacy will forever be etched in the blood-stained history of pro wrestling.
