Sabu WWE Death – The global wrestling community is mourning the loss of Terry Brunk, better known as Sabu, who passed away on May 11, 2025, just weeks after his final match.
His passing has left a profound void in the lives of his family, friends, colleagues, and fans, as they reflect on his storied career and lasting impact on professional wrestling.
Born on December 12, 1964, Sabu was the nephew of wrestling legend Ed “The Sheik” Farhat, inheriting a fearless ring persona that would influence generations. He debuted professionally in the mid-1980s, competing in Japan’s Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling and Mexico’s AAA, before finding his spiritual home in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) during the 1990s boom.
A two-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion, Sabu popularized a barbed-wire-laced, high-risk style that permeated mainstream wrestling. His legendary matches, including the infamous “no-ropes barbed wire” bout against Terry Funk in 1997, remain some of the most brutal encounters in wrestling history.
Despite his reputation for chaos, colleagues remember Sabu as a soft-spoken craftsman devoted to perfecting the illusion of combat. WWE Hall-of-Fame broadcaster Paul Heyman once called him “the standard by which hardcore is measured.” Long-time friend Rob Van Dam described him as “a brother who taught me how to fly,” while Taz thanked him “for opening doors and minds.”
Sabu’s résumé spanned nearly every major promotion of the cable-TV era—WCW, NJPW, TNA, Ring of Honor, and WWE, where a 2006 revival of ECW introduced his fearless catalogue of dives to a new generation. His final match took place on April 18, 2025, at Joey Janela’s Spring Break 9, where he raised his hand one last time in victory.
Industry insiders note that his final bow underscores his philosophy: always leave the audience talking. His influence can be seen today in the risk-heavy offense of AEW’s Darby Allin, the ladder-match theatrics of WWE’s Kevin Owens, and the glass-shard spectacles of death-match circuits worldwide.
Beyond championships and scar tissue, Sabu’s legacy rests on the sense of possibility he unlocked. He blurred the line between sport and stunt performance, proving that storytelling could be visceral, uncomfortable, yet still grounded in respect for the craft. His trademark triple-jump moonsault was both a move and a manifesto: dare greatly.
Funeral arrangements have not been announced, and the family has requested privacy while they grieve. AEW and WWE have confirmed that tribute graphics will appear on upcoming broadcasts, and there is grassroots support for posthumous induction into multiple halls of fame.
Rest in peace, Terry Brunk (Sabu). Your dedication, innovation, and extreme spirit will forever be remembered.