Hours after information of Sabu’s passing, Dave Meltzer took to Wrestling Observer Radio to debate the toll that Sabu’s hardcore wrestling type took on his life and profession. Sabu, whose actual title was Terry Brunk, died on the age of 60, abandoning a legacy outlined by blood, barbed wire, and unmatched brutality contained in the ring.
Meltzer started by addressing Sabu’s bodily situation in his closing years, noting the toll many years of hardcore wrestling took on his physique. “Sabu had a variety of points from, you understand, the painkillers from what he did,” Meltzer stated. He additionally talked about that Sabu “did take what appeared like a nasty bump in that match too the place he form of fell backwards to the ground, and he’s 60 years outdated. , I imply, I do know he hadn’t wrestled in years.”
Sabu’s private life was additionally marked by heartbreak, which Meltzer emphasised whereas reflecting on a tragic loss that deeply affected Sabu. “He went by some main heartbreak, you understand, with… his, I don’t know if it was his girlfriend or no matter… when she handed away, you understand, which was years in the past however, you understand, at a really younger age,” Meltzer revealed. He urged that the emotional ache compounded the bodily punishment Sabu endured all through his profession.
Meltzer painted a grim image of Sabu’s situation within the years after his ECW run, describing how promoters would guide Sabu regardless of his deteriorating well being. “There have been many horror tales earlier than, and it’s form of… you understand, I imply, he lived by them and since he was out of wrestling, you form of hope that, you understand, now that he’s out of wrestling, we’re not going to see and listen to them,” Meltzer stated.
He additionally mentioned how Sabu’s hardcore persona turned each a blessing and a curse, with Sabu feeling pressured to continuously outdo himself to stay as much as his repute. “He was mentally robust to have the ability to go on the market, and each present he needed to do it as a result of that was the gimmick. The gimmick was that he labored more durable than everyone else,” Meltzer defined.
Meltzer recalled a dialog the place Sabu refused to put on protecting padding, saying, “I keep in mind like very early on, you understand, they go like, how come you don’t, you understand, put extra padding on? He goes, ‘As a result of then individuals will say, oh, it’s not that robust.’ He needed it to be robust.”
Meltzer additionally expressed remorse over how Sabu’s profession unfolded, mentioning that Sabu by no means acquired the monetary rewards that many wrestlers did within the late 90s. “By the point, you understand, the massive cash was there, I imply, he didn’t fairly get that large cash throughout the late 90s run that maybe he might have had issues labored out in another way,” Meltzer stated, implying that Sabu’s loyalty to ECW and hardcore wrestling might have price him larger paydays.
Regardless of the bodily and emotional toll, Sabu’s repute as a hardcore icon remained intact till his closing days. Meltzer acknowledged Sabu’s final match towards Joey Janela over WrestleMania weekend, saying, “He picked up a variety of accidents. He went for a very long time… simply had his retirement match at WrestleMania weekend with Joey Janela, which, you understand, want I went now, however that’s the way it goes.”
Meltzer wrapped up his feedback by reflecting on the double-edged sword of hardcore wrestling, significantly the affect ECW had on Sabu and numerous others. “Typically I feel again and it’s like, oh, you understand, wouldn’t or not it’s higher if we didn’t have individuals going, ‘We would like tables,’ which clearly began in ECW throughout each large match as a result of they’re sitting there wanting individuals to drag out tables,” Meltzer stated. He famous that whereas Sabu gained fame by his willingness to go to extremes, the toll it took was simple.
Sabu’s profession was marked by iconic moments in ECW, FMW, and WWE, the place he delivered unforgettable matches towards the likes of Rob Van Dam, Taz, and Terry Funk. However as Meltzer’s feedback reveal, the hardcore legend’s life behind the scenes was crammed with ache, heartbreak, and lingering accidents that haunted him lengthy after the bell rang.
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What are your ideas on Sabu’s legacy? Was the hardcore type definitely worth the toll it took on his physique and life? Please share your ideas and suggestions within the remark part under.