Latest news with #TerryBrunk
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hulk Hogan made me doubt whether I was 'a real American.' Sabu showed me I was.
Professional wrestling can seem like a childish artform. All the bejeweled cowboy hats, tasseled boots and hyper-muscular men screaming violent intentions into microphones. The outlandish ring maneuvers, melodramatic storylines and occasional dance breaks. But if you grow up consuming it, you may just never cut the cord. At 42, I'm one of those who never outgrew wrestling, and that's why I'm hurting over the recent death of a wrestler who played a strangely important role in my ability to embrace my Arab American heritage. Terry Brunk, a Lansing native known in the wrestling world as Sabu, died May 11 at 60, a ripe old age in pro wrestling, where drug use, concussions and other life-shortening injuries and habits are routine. He performed in his final match just last month, in a ring with barbed wire ropes, and bleeding all over the canvas one last time to entertain his fans. The illusions of winning and losing in professional wrestling typically fade for most kids around the same time Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are exposed. But if you keep watching, more fascinating aspects of this deceptively simple storytelling medium start to shine: the secrets of the trade, the backstage drama, the intricacies of the performances, all the improvisation, innovation and pageantry involved, and perhaps most of all, the reactions of the crowd ― and the lengths performers go to elicit them. Sometimes, the crowds are more fun to watch than the actual matches. And sometimes, the most rousing, fever-pitch crowd eruptions ― and the wrestlers who evoke them ― can stick with you for a lifetime. I noticed the disinterested dad in the crowd early in the show. He'd brought a group of very excited kids to Joe Louis Arena for a 2006 WWE event, bought them some merch and patiently watched them cheer the good guys, boo the bad guys, and at one point, tear to shreds a homemade sign paying tribute to a hero who had just turned villain. I relished watching the family take in the show from the row right in front of me. Nosebleed seats or not, I had a front row view of these frenzied little fans and their hilariously bored, mustachioed dad, who kept glancing at his watch. I also happened to hear the father say a few words in Arabic, which made me very curious how this family would react when a certain wrestler made his appearance toward the end of the show. Like many 1980s kids, I learned to say my prayers and take my vitamins from Hulk Hogan, who earned our adulation by thwarting all the dastardly, anti-American villains who dared challenge him ― chief among them, the Iron Sheik. The Iron Sheik was played by Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, a Persian American performer who pretended to be an Arab, an evil one. He wore an Arab headdress into the ring, antagonized fans and cheated every chance he got. His character was inspired by The Sheik, played by Ed Farhat, a Michigan wrestler and World War II veteran of Lebanese decent who used every ethnic stereotype in the book to develop a persona that enraged fans and drove his opponents to stardom. The Sheik was known for pulling foreign objects like pencils and forks from his tights, and using them to bloody his opponents' faces behind the referees back. He would snarl and bite and shout gibberish ― infused with a touch of Arabic ― to seem as monstrous as possible. And he would stall, infuriating opponents and fans, sometimes praying in the ring to delay a fight, prostrating like a Muslim even though he was a Lebanese Christian. The Sheik made a lot of wrestlers heroes. He made a lot of people rich. And he was the driving force behind Detroit's long-running Big Time Wrestling promotion company. Then, in his later years, he trained his nephew, Brunk, who would become a wrestling legend in his own right as Sabu. I remember, as a child, seeing a family photograph of a dignified-looking man in an Arab headdress. I asked my mother who he was. She told me it was her father, my grandfather. At that point, the only men I'd ever seen wearing the garment were raving maniacs prone to cheating their way to victory in wrestling rings. 'Are we the bad guys?' I thought. It was terribly disorienting. I no longer felt comfortable singing along to Hulk Hogan's theme song, 'I am a real American.' It was the first time I had to contend with the idea that maybe, despite being born here, not everyone would believe I was a real American. I still sang the song sometimes, but quietly, and I felt like an imposter. It would be another 20 years before I could fully reconcile that awful feeling. At the Joe in 2006, when Sabu's vaguely Arabic-sounding music hit, those kids in front of me flipped out with joy, along with the rest of the arena. And their father, his interest finally piqued by the fever-pitch crowd reaction, unfolded his arms and craned his neck to see a larger-than-life, musclebound man in an Arab headdress making his way to the ring to resounding applause. The father's eyes widened, he started to smile and slowly began to applaud. I had to stifle tears of joy. I loved Sabu. But I did not realize he'd become a mainstream fan favorite. I never imagined I'd ever see a man proudly wearing his Arab heritage cheered by a WWE crowd. Sabu had brought me full circle, embraced by fans who loved him as much as they'd hated the Iron Sheik. Like his uncle, Sabu used negative stereotypes to his advantage. The Sheik gave him the ring name Sabu as a tribute to the Indian American actor Sabu Dastagir, who starred in films in the 1930s and 40s as an exotic, vaguely ethnic type. Sabu the wrestler played an absurdly vicious character who often flew through the air to kick steel chairs into his opponents' faces. But his persona was silent and more dignified than the cartoonish Sheik. To entertain his fans, Sabu sacrificed his body in ways no one had ever dreamed of. In one famous match, after legitimately breaking his jaw, he directed his manager to wrap duct tape around his head to hold the shattered bone in place, and he finished the show. The fans adored him, and I couldn't believe it. There's always a contingent of wrestling fans who prefer going against the grain, rooting for the villains ― 'heels,' in wrestling lingo ― to take down the heroes. There's something exhilarating about rejecting the narrative you're expected to embrace, abandoning the 'babyfaces' — the good guys — and siding, for the moment, with fictional evil. During the 1990s, in the waning days of Hulkamania, those fans took over. Babyface characters were booed. Heels were cheered. And show promoters were forced to scramble for new formulas. That dynamic gave rise to an outlaw wrestling promotion based in Philadelphia known as Extreme Championship Wrestling, ECW, where standard moves like headlocks and toe holds were frowned upon, and death-defying feats of athleticism and brutality were obligatory. Two Michigan wrestlers trained by The Sheik played central roles there: Sabu, and Battle Creek native Rob Van Dam. They used chairs, tables, barbed wire, thumb tacks and other objects, often handed to them by fans, to do all manner of damage to each other. (At the time, 'concussion protocol' was not a well-known phrase.) The promotion struggled to get TV exposure, but video tapes of those wild shows made their way across the country fast, and soon enough, extreme wrestling became mainstream wrestling, with Sabu, Van Dam and others making appearances in WWE. And by then, crowds no longer cared what their heroes looked like, or whether they were playing by the rules. It only mattered that they were badasses. I'm still in awe when current WWE superstar Sami Zayn makes his ring entrances, sending crowds into a frenzy of song and dance. His character is not overtly based on his Syrian Canadian heritage. But it's there, in subtle ways. An inconspicuous bit of Arabic script spelling out his name on his tights. Merch that features a Rocky Balboa-style image of him in a championship moment that reads 'Yo Khadija, I did it!' ― an homage to the fictional boxer's famous "Yo Adrian!" Zayn runs a charity that provides mobile health clinics to communities in need in Syria. And during tours of the Middle East, the red-headed Montreal native wins over unsuspecting crowds by grabbing the microphone and addressing them directly in Arabic. He has no need to leverage stereotypes. No need for a one-dimensional gimmick. And no need for over-the-top, bloody, concussion-inducing violence to earn his place in the spotlight. Zayn can just be a charismatic wrestler who happens have Arab heritage, thanks to Sabu, The Sheik, the Iron Sheik and others who came before him, clearing the way for dignified stardom ― and for a 42-year-old wrestling fan to enjoy his guilty pleasure, with a little less guilt. Khalil AlHajal is deputy editorial page editor of the Detroit Free Press. Contact: kalhajal@ Submit a letter to the editor at and we may publish it online and in print. Like what you're reading? Please consider supporting local journalism and getting unlimited digital access with a Detroit Free Press subscription. We depend on readers like you. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pro wrestler Sabu died in May, and I'm mourning the loss | Opinion
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Heartbreaking moment wrestling legend fights tears in tribute to his biggest rival who died at age 60
Professional wrestling legend Taz fought back tears as he paid tribute to his greatest rival, Sabu, on live television, as the squared-circle icon passed away at age 60 on Sunday. Taz, who now works as a color commentator for All Elite Wrestling, was asked about his bitter rivalry with Sabu, whose real name was Terry Brunk, from the 1990s during Wednesday's broadcast of 'Dynamite'. The duo turned real-life drama into a storyline that lasted multiple years in former cult-favorite promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling. Two decades later, it is clear Taz has plenty of love for the late grappler. 'I'm gonna try and do this the best I can,' Taz began. 'But this guy, he was a machine. His work ethic was off the charts. His presence was always amazing. His energy was freaking infectious. And when I wrestled him, every time he brought the best out of me.' 'Sabu was aura, before aura was aura, before aura was cool. That's what this man was. And behind the curtain I promise you, he was loved by his peers worldwide. I'm gonna miss you brother. I love you.' The duo were given the huge honor of squaring off during ECW's first-ever pay-per-view in 1997. Taz and Sabu wrestled for a final time in 1999 in a brutal match won by the late high-flyer over 'The Human Suplex Machine'. Sabu wrestled in his retirement match last month against former AEW talent Joey Janela during WrestleMania weekend in Las Vegas. During the match, Sabu was driven from the ring to the hardwood floor and through a barbed-wire laced table. According to reports, he made what is believed to have been his last public appearance at last weekend's Tri-State Wrestling Alliance reunion convention in Philadelphia. Sabu reached the most fans at once during a brief tenure with World Wrestling Entertainment as part of a revived ECW brand. During that span, he wrestled John Cena and squared off with Rey Mysterio in a match for the World Heavyweight Championship. On the same show where Mysterio faced Sabu in June 2006 was Taz's retirement match, submitting Jerry Lawler in a matter of seconds.
Newsweek
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Pays Tribute to Sabu on Monday Night Raw
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The professional wrestling world was shaken when news spread that ECW icon and hardcore wrestling legend Sabu, real name Terry Brunk, had passed away at 60 years old. WWE is saddened to learn that Terry Brunk, known to wrestling fans as Sabu, has passed away. WWE extends its condolences to Sabu's family, friends and — WWE (@WWE) May 11, 2025 Countless wrestlers paid tribute to the legend online, thanking him for the contributions he had made to the business. More Pro Wrestling: Wrestling Legend Sabu Passes Away at 60 WWE did the same on Monday Night Raw, and multiple members of the roster proceeded to follow suit. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 14: Professional wrestler Sabu holds up his autobiography "Sabu: Scars, Silence, & Superglue" during ToyCon 2020 at the Eastside Cannery Casino Hotel on March 14, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 14: Professional wrestler Sabu holds up his autobiography "Sabu: Scars, Silence, & Superglue" during ToyCon 2020 at the Eastside Cannery Casino Hotel on March 14, 2020 in Las Vegas, Michael Cole and Pat McAfee kicked off the show with a tribute to Sabu, calling him a "trailblazer" and "legendary." "The wrestling world lost a trailblazer over the weekend: legendary ECW superstar Sabu." Cole said. "He was a hardcore extraordinaire. He passed away at the age of 60. A two-time ECW World Champion who had a legendary rivalry with a friend of mine named Tazz." Honoring the life and remembering the legendary career of SABU.#ThankYouSabu — WWE (@WWE) May 13, 2025 "I was incredibly lucky to grow up during the era of ECW," McAfee said. "Obviously, we all had our own trampoline wrestling associations around the country. We all followed the way of the ECW superstars. And what Sabu did every time he performed was put his life on the line for everybody's entertainment. We are forever grateful for his service to this industry." "We all remember Sabu tonight, send our condolences to his family and his friends," Cole concluded as the crowd chanted "Thank you, Sabu." More Pro Wrestling: Recently Released Superstar Working With WWE Again This wasn't the only time Sabu was remembered on Raw. Before he entered into the ring, CM Punk stood on the apron and pointed to the sky in homage to ECW's Evel Knievel. "He influenced everyone and everything," CM Punk later said on Instagram. "You read about him and when you finally saw him, he somehow exceeded the expectations. He was infamous. There will never be another." "The nephew of WWE Hall of Famer, The Sheik, Sabu became a national star as part of ECW, where he was a pioneer of hardcore wrestling, leaping from chairs and driving his opponents through tables and even barbed wire," WWE said in an online tribute. "In 2006, Sabu signed with WWE as part of WWE's revival of the ECW brand. Finally unleashed on WWE, Sabu competed in marquee contests with Rey Mysterio for the World Heavyweight Championship and John Cena for the WWE Championship. "One of his greatest accomplishments came when he and fellow ECW Originals, The Sandman, Tommy Dreamer and Van Dam were victorious at WrestleMania 23 in Sabu's native Detroit in front of over 80,000 fans. "Sabu left WWE soon after in 2007 and continued to travel the world as sports-entertainment's human highlight reel." More Pro Wrestling: Hulk Hogan Breaks Silence on Negative Public Image WWE Legend Jake 'The Snake' Roberts Undergoes Surgery For more WWE and professional wrestling news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Superstars React to Sabu's Death and Legacy
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. ECW legend and professional wrestling icon Sabu, real name Terry Brunk, sadly passed away at 60 years old, less than a month after his final official match. WWE is saddened to learn that Terry Brunk, known to wrestling fans as Sabu, has passed away. WWE extends its condolences to Sabu's family, friends and — WWE (@WWE) May 11, 2025 While he is most well-known for his time in ECW, Sabu also wrestled in countless promotions around the world, including WWE, WCW, TNA, NJPW, and so many more. NJPW is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Sabu at the age of 60. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go to Sabu's family, friends and fans. In memoriam: — NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) May 12, 2025 Sabu remains one of the most influential wrestlers of his era, developing an iconic hardcore and high-flying style that is replicated to this day. More Pro Wrestling: Wrestling Legend and Infamous Heel Passes Away at 60 Multiple wrestlers have now come out to pay tribute to the legend and the effect he has had on the business. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 14: Professional wrestler Sabu attends ToyCon 2020 at the Eastside Cannery Casino Hotel on March 14, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 14: Professional wrestler Sabu attends ToyCon 2020 at the Eastside Cannery Casino Hotel on March 14, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada."Game changers are people who altered the RULES in the profession for which they played," fellow ECW legend Tommy Dreamer said. "Bob Gibson. Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Deacon Jones. Mel Blount. Jordan Curry. Sabu tables innovative movesets high flying assault toughness. He was ECW." Game changers are people who altered the RULES in the profession for which they played Bob Gibson Kareem Abdul Jabbar Deacon Jones Mel Blount Jordan Curry Sabu tables innovative movesets high flying assault toughness He was ECW — Tommy Dreamer (@THETOMMYDREAMER) May 12, 2025 "Here we were just a few weeks ago at Wrestlecon," WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam said of his former tag team partner. "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. 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… — Rob Van Dam (@TherealRVD) May 12, 2025 "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." More Pro Wrestling: WWE Superstar Braun Strowman Was Released For Two Major Reasons: Report "A brotherhood and bond that very few in our business will ever understand," Bully Ray said. "RIP Sabu and THANK YOU for being the pioneer and originator of getting the tables!!" Bully Ray would go on to pay tribute to Sabu on the Busted Open Radio alongside Sandman, Tazz, and many more. "Sabu was a trailblazing groundbreaker who played a major role in the expansion of what a pro wrestling match could be," Matt Hardy said. "The fact that tables are commonly utilized in pro wrestling is because of Terry Brunk & how he made an inanimate object like a table a must see component in his match. RIP Sabu Sabu was a trailblazing groundbreaker who played a major role in the expansion of what a pro wrestling match could be. The fact that tables are commonly utilized in pro wrestling is because of Terry Brunk & how he made an inanimate object like a table a must see… — MATT HARDY (@MATTHARDYBRAND) May 11, 2025 "Sabu was heavily influential on today's current style, even though his contributions are still under appreciated by most. My thoughts go out to all of Sabu's family, friends & fans." More Pro Wrestling: Released WWE Superstar Set For In-Ring Return WWE Wants Big Money From Cities To Host John Cena's Retirement Match For more professional wrestling news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chael Sonnen Reacts to Sabu's Death With Blunt Tribute
The wrestling, combat sports, and entertainment communities were stunned by the sudden death of Terry Brunk—known to fans around the world as Sabu—who passed away on May 11, 2025, at the age of 60. A pioneer of pain and spectacle, Sabu left behind a legacy soaked in blood, barbed wire, and broken barriers. As tributes poured in from across the industry, one message stood out for its raw honesty—delivered by UFC Hall of Famer Chael Sonnen. Sonnen, never one to sugarcoat, posted on X: 'I'm assuming it was a cumulative effect of copious amounts of drugs, barbed wire and walking barefoot in the ECW arena – RIP.' While some found it jarring, others saw it as a brutally truthful nod to the punishing world Sabu helped define. The comment cut through the sentimentality and served as a reminder of the physical and psychological toll pro wrestling demands. Sabu, trained by his legendary uncle The Sheik, carved his name into wrestling history through the madness of ECW. His high-risk, no-limits style made him a cult hero and two-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion. He later competed in WWE, TNA, and NJPW, bringing his brand of chaos wherever he went. Fans often described him as a 'one-of-a-kind madman' and 'the original hardcore icon'. SabuGetty Images Wrestling veterans echoed that impact. WWE star Sami Zayn wrote on X: 'This is a gut punch. RIP Sabu. One of a kind, absolute legend and a true game changer.' Mick Foley shared on Facebook: 'I just learned the sad news of Sabu's passing, and it has me feeling really down this Mother's Day. I will write a longer article in a few days, but I just wanted to say that Sabu was one of my favorite opponents—an innovator, a pioneer for our sport, and someone who gave so much more to the sport than it gave back to him.' Advertisement In a world built on spectacle, suffering, and showmanship—Sabu never flinched. His story is written in scars and steel chairs, remembered by generations as a fearless architect of wrestling's wildest edges. Whether you were cheering his dives or shielding your eyes, one thing was always clear—Sabu left it all in the ring. And for that, he'll never be forgotten. Related: Former UFC Heavyweight Legend Set for Explosive Debut in New Promotion – Why This Could Be His Retirement Fight Related: Live Audio Reveals Dana White's Assuring Words to Jack Della Maddalena After UFC 315 Win
