Former WWE professional wrestler dies at 60
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) announced on social media that Sabu, whose real name was Terry Michael Brunk, has died at the age of 60.
'AEW and the wrestling world mourns the passing of Sabu. From barbed wire battles to unforgettable high-risk moments, Sabu gave everything to professional wrestling. Our thoughts are with his family, his friends and his fans.'
All Elite Wrestling on X
Sabu rose to prominence in the 1990s as a member of Extreme Championship Wrestling. He was a former ECW World Heavyweight Champion and a former ECW World Tag Team Champion alongside WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam.
Sabu competed in WWE in the mid-2000s as a part of the WWE/ECW reboot. He had pay-per-view matches with Rey Mysterio, John Cena, and Big Show. He competed as a member of the ECW Originals in a winning effort over The New Breed in a multi-man tag team match at WrestleMania 23 in 2007.
In 2023, Sabu appeared at AEW Double or Nothing alongside Adam Cole in Cole's unsanctioned match with Chris Jericho. On April 18, Sabu defeated Joey Janela in his retirement match in Game Changer Wrestling (GCW).
The cause of death for Sabu was not given as of this writing.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Bollea cited his decadeslong ties with Trump, when he gave what Trump would call 'an absolutely electric speech' at the Republican National Convention in 2024. 'As an entertainer, I try to stay out of politics,' Bollea said from the stage in Milwaukee. 'I can no longer stay silent. I'm here tonight because I want the world to know that Donald Trump is a real American hero, and I'm proud to support my hero as the next President of this United States.' Bollea ripped off his shirt, his signature move, to reveal a red Trump-Vance tank top beneath and told the crowd: 'Let Trump-a-mania run wild, brother! Let Trump-a-mania rule again! Let Trump-a-mania, Make America Great Again!' 'Hulk Hogan was a great American icon,' Vice President J.D. Vance posted on X after Bollea's death. 'One of the first people I ever truly admired as a kid. The last time I saw him we promised we'd get beers together next time we saw each other. The next time will have to be on the other side, my friend! Rest in peace.' Other Republicans including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also offered tributes. Johnson called Bollea 'a giant in stature and in life.' DeSantis said he was 'a major icon' and a 'Floridian through and through.' Conservative activist and political commentator Charlie Kirk described Bollea as 'a genuine, uniquely American creation. Fearlessly original. Flawed but unbowed. He had the courage to stand on his own principles, and he never stopped fighting for his country.' Bollea outlined those principles at the height of Hulkamania in what he called his 'Demandments': train, say your prayers, and eat your vitamins. Later, he added a fourth: believe in yourself.
