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The recent ing of Sabu, the Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) legend, has shed light on the darker side of professional wrestling in the 1980s and 1990s. Despite achieving worldwide fame, Terry Brunk "Sabu" faced severe financial and health issues in his later years, tarnishing the legacy of one of the pioneers of extreme wrestling.
Sabu debuted in 1985 with Big Time Wrestling before competing in various independent promotions. His career gained traction in the early 1990s, leading to his g with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1993.
His reputation as an extreme wrestler quickly spread beyond the U.S. In 1991, he embarked on his first tour of Japan, where he became known for his participation in brutal matches featuring barbed wire, steel chairs, and even blowtorches.
Sabu fully embraced this hardcore style, becoming a founding member and two-time champion of ECW. However, his commitment to high-risk wrestling came at a heavy price-chronic pain from numerous injuries, without the financial compensation to match.
Financial struggles in later years
There are no official records of Brunk's net worth, but reports indicate he faced financial hardship. According to The Sportster, Sabu was listed among wrestling's poorest icons. The article notes that despite his decades-long career, "Sabu is having to beg the WWE Universe to help him pay for an operation that he desperately needed."
Some sources, including The Sportster, attribute his financial troubles to unspecified addictions. Meanwhile, Ring Side News has suggested that Sabu may have developed a dependency on painkillers due to his many injuries.
While his income figures remain undisclosed, Sabu revealed in a 2022 interview on the Title Match Wrestling podcast that he was paid well for the use of his likeness in the SmackDown vs. Raw video game.
A legacy that redefined wrestling
Terry Brunk, better known as Sabu, leaves behind an enduring legacy as the embodiment of extreme wrestling. His fearless, almost reckless approach to the sport pushed boundaries and set a new standard for future generations.
Although his later years were plagued by financial and health difficulties, the WWE icon's contributions to hardcore wrestling cement his place among the legends of the industry.