The death of pro wrestling icon Sabu (born Terrance Michael Brunk) at age 61 has been a subject of controversy in pro wrestling fan circles. He died on May 11, 2025. Despite his age coupled with a long history of multiple injuries, Sabu continued to wrestle in his signature hardcore style weeks before his death.
In multiple social media posts, wrestling fans blamed both the effects of kratom and the organization for which Sabu wrestled in his final match: Game Changer Wrestling (GCW).
Sabu’s official cause of death and any post-mortem reports have not been released to the public.
Joey Janela, Sabu’s opponent during his final match, initially said Sabu took kratom in order for him to wrestle despite long term chronic pain from multiple injuries, describing Sabu as having trouble walking and his state of mind as being “knocked out”. He later recanted this statement in a Tweet, saying, “I said he was ‘knocked out’ after that spot when despite being a rough deal, he was not that. I was just trying to add to the lore and unpredictably of Sabu.”
According to one source, Brunk also suffered a concussion during his final match with Janela.
Sabu’s long time friend and tag team partner, Rob Van Dam, also denied kratom was involved in his death. In a Youtube video, Van Dam said that Sabu, who introduced him to kratom, likely administered kratom before his final match. “There’s been a lot of talk about the kratom. I’m an advocate for it.. It had nothing to do with Sabu dying three weeks later,” Van Dam said.
Sabu was known for his hardcore wrestling style, particularly in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). His career spanned four decades, beginning in 1985, and he wrestled in various promotions, including ECW, WWE, WCW, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).
Trained by his uncle, The Sheik, Sabu became famous for his high-risk maneuvers and brutal matches, often incorporating barbed wire and tables. He won multiple championships, including two ECW World Heavyweight Championships and one NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
Sabu met Van Dam in 1989, as Van Dam was also a student of The Sheik. Initially rivals, they later formed a tag team in 1996. Together, they won the ECW World Tag Team Championship twice and had legendary matches against teams like The Dudley Boyz and Jinsei Shinzaki & Hayabusa. Their partnership was marked by high-risk, daredevil moves that defined ECW’s hardcore style. However, tensions arose, leading to a feud where Sabu challenged Van Dam for the ECW World Television Championship in 2000, but lost and left ECW. They reunited in WWE’s ECW brand (2005–2007) and later in TNA (2010), continuing their legacy. Their final tag match was in 2019, and their last singles match was at TNA Hardcore Justice in 2010.
Sabu suffered multiple injuries throughout his life and career. Shortly before starting his wrestling training, Sabu was shot in the face, injuring his jaw and teeth. His willingness to push the limits of hardcore wrestling resulted in broken bones, deep cuts, and long-term damage to his body.
One of his most serious injuries occurred in 1994, when he broke his neck during a match against Chris Benoit in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). Despite the severity, Sabu continued wrestling, often refusing medical treatment and instead taping up wounds mid-match. His back and knees suffered extensive damage due to his frequent use of high-flying moves and table spots.
In his later years, Sabu struggled with chronic pain and required multiple surgeries to address lingering injuries. Despite this, he went through with the final match, reinforcing his reputation as one of wrestling’s toughest competitors.
In July 2016, Sabu was included in a class action lawsuit against WWE, alleging that wrestlers suffered long-term neurological injuries due to the company’s negligence. The lawsuit claimed that WWE failed to provide proper care and misrepresented the severity and impact of these injuries. Attorney Konstantine Kyros, who had previously litigated multiple cases against WWE, handled the suit. However, in September 2018, US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant dismissed the case.
There is an extensive list of pro-wrestlers who have died prematurely under the age of 65 via Wikipedia.