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A Tribute to SABU: How the Hardcore Legend Changed Wrestling

Kim Justice's Wrestling Road

29,532 views

Sabu didn't get enough credit while he was alive for changing wrestling completely and inspiring so many others -- he was one of the 90's biggest trailblazers, and this video goes into those early years, including his team with The Sheik in FMW, his original ECW arrival in 1993, and early bouts against the likes of Rob Van Dam, Taz, Terry Funk and Lightning Kid. Enjoy!

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Phil Schneider - Sabu's Greatest Matches That You've Never Seen: https://www.theringer.com/2025/05/13/...
Sabu was Barbed Wire's Greatest Conductor: https://www.theringer.com/2025/05/12/...
Best of Sabu-Sheik FMW 1991-94: Video

0:00 An Introduction to Sabu
3:22 Trained by The Sheik, Meeting Rob Van Dam
8:01 Sabu and The Sheik Enter FMW
11:21 The Ring of Fire Match + Classic with Terry Funk and Tarzan Goto
19:11 Sabu Hits ECW, Debut against Taz
21:17 A Classic Against Lightning Kid
24:17 Sabu's Impact on Wrestling Fans + 1994 #2 Wrestler of the Year
27:14 Sabu Was the Future

20 Comments

@thewrestlingroad Creator 1 year ago Pinned

When was the first time you discovered the legend that is Sabu? Have a shout here in the comments, and thanks for watching. :)

@JackgarPrime 1 year ago

To say he was something unique and fresh to the American wrestling scene would be a gross understatement. He was one of those guys who was so ahead of the curve, that it may have been too much for when he was coming up, but the world eventually caught on to how valuable he really was.

@lexnoil 1 year ago

Sabu was the reason I started to watch ECW back in the 90s.

@bankyyyyy 1 year ago

Often imitated, never replicated. RIP Sabu ☝🏽

@AngelusFitzgerald 1 year ago (edited)

Brian Last on Jim cornette's podcast said that Sabu was basically 90s Tiger Mask. Tiger Mask from 1981 to 1983, had a presentation that was so unique and innovative, that it became influential and revolutionary. By the end of the 80s, many wrestlers in many companies have ripped him off and by the end of the 90s, his style (and Dynamite Kid's to a similar extent) became a staple on the whole industry. From 1993 to 1995, the same thing happened with Sabu.

@snakeson9246 1 year ago

It's tragic that Sabu was only celebrated this much after his passing, considering how most people don't realize the breadth of his influence. But he is recognized now, even if death is for the living. RIP Sabu.

@SonOvLaw 1 year ago

"Despite getting 3rd degree burns, Sheik still wanted to do his fireball spot with Onita."

Priorities, man. Priorities.

@fayezfawzi3255 1 year ago (edited)

As a big fan of Sabu, thank you for this fantastic and very respectful video. Hopefully you do one about the career of Sabu's uncle and mentor The Sheik too at some point :).
And of course, RIP Sabu! Gone but never ever forgotten.

@Stv101streamer 1 month ago

This has to be the best damn tribute anyone could have given. Your command of the english language is absolutely stellar and is always a pleasure to listen to while I am finishing some reports at work. Remarkable. Rip Sabu

@Rahsomm 1 year ago

Amazing tribute to the legend!

@jjenk911 1 year ago

I remember watching Sabu in ECW first. The dude is and was nuts. May he Rest In Peace.

@MrAmazingness47 1 year ago

Sabu was the original king of the indies.

@V-Master-ez1ht 1 year ago

Shame we couldn’t talk about the full feud with Taz where the two don’t even touch each other for over a year. That moment of the two having a stare down at November to Remember is an all time moment.

@Empire_Down 1 year ago

Great tribute Kim - RIP Sabu ☝🏾

@thehaunted8055 1 year ago

R.I.P Sabu
A Hardcore Wrestling Icon

@Imhim247 1 year ago

Watching Sabu wrestle on ECW TV at 2 AM as a kid in the early 90s was the crazy childhood I cherish. I discovered FMW through Sabu. He is one of the reasons why I love Japanese wrestling. He's my favorite wrestler for sure. Rest easy, Terry Brunk aka Sabu. ❤️🕊

@Mateus_Carvalho 1 year ago (edited)

Sabu was like a comet, you observe the trajectory, waiting to see where it'll land and it would always land impressively, regardless of whether it managed to find his target or not.

Much as we had a laugh of the botches and whatnot, we only get someone like Sabu when someone exposes themselves to that style. The botches were merely a consequence and I doubt the man himself would've had it any other way.

@VicariousThePot 1 year ago

Ever since i was a kid, sabu has been on my mt rushmore. I could put a sabu match on to my non wrestling fan friends and family and i would always get thr same comments "wow that guy is insane, holy crap that dude is gonna kill someone, how is he still alive", and i would smile and nod with great pride.

@Kaltagstar96 1 year ago (edited)

The thing I love looking back at Sabu is that he had this authenticity about his wild man persona. Often with wrestlers, even ones that keep kayfabe like MJF, you know that they're just working. With Sabu it's like nobody told him that wrestling was a work and that's actually some really high praise. Tazz summed it up best when he said "Sabu had aura before aura was cool"

Also, in the match clips of pre-Sabu Sabu vs. Ritchie Magnet, Magnet seems quite athletic for a big dude, very Buddy Rose esque.